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| >> Media Section Below are press releases from May and June 2008. For any media queries, please contact Nina Goad, 0207 391 6355, nina@bad.org.uk To return to the main press release page, click here. Dermatologists to hold UK’s largest mole check event , 02.06.08 Dermatologists to hold UK’s largest mole check event For immediate release, June 2nd 2008 The British Association of Dermatologists is to host the UK’s largest ever free mole check event next week. As part of the association’s Sun Awareness campaign, teams of Consultant Dermatologists and specialist nurses will be holding mole check sessions at the BBC Gardeners’ World Live 2008 show at the NEC in Birmingham, from Tuesday June 10th to Sunday June 15th. The association are hoping that through a mass mole check, they can highlight that people can get moles they are concerned about looked at free of charge through the NHS, and are not obliged to pay to do so at a private clinic. Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists said: “As well as teaching people of the importance of checking their skin for cancer, we hope that through the event we can inform people how to access care rapidly and free via the NHS. “This follows a survey we carried out recently, which revealed that one in six people are not aware that a mole can be checked for free by a GP, instead believing this service has to be paid for. We are worried that this financial element could cause people to delay seeking help.” Consultant Dermatologists are the experts in diagnosing a skin cancer, and GPs can refer anyone with a possible skin cancer to a local dermatology department, on the NHS. There are no long waiting lists – in fact if your GP suspects you have a melanoma or SCC, the two more dangerous types, you will be seen within just two weeks. Of course people may choose to go to a private mole screening clinic, but they are usually then referred back to the NHS. As gardening enthusiasts spend a lot of time outdoors, exposed to skin damage from the sun, the Gardener’s World Show Live show seemed like an ideal venue to hold the biggest ever mole check event. Nina Goad said: “More than 360,000 people attend the show, and our dermatologists will be busy trying to screen as many people as possible. It’s hard to say how many people will be seen, as each person will have different requirements, but we’ve certainly never held a six day event before, so we’re expecting to see several hundred people at least.” The event, being held in support of the skin cancer charity SKCIN, will start with a special mole check session for the media and the show’s judges on June 10th, before the show opens to the public the following day. This year’s Sun Awareness campaign focuses on ‘early detection’ of skin cancer, teaching people to check their skin for possible signs of cancer, and to make sure they see a doctor if there are any concerns. As part of the campaign, the association has created a list of signs to look out for in a mole that may indicate a melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer: Asymmetry - the two halves of the area may differ in shape Consultant Dermatologists are the experts in diagnosing and treating skin cancer, and the British Association of Dermatologists recommends reporting any unusual changes to the skin (not only those in its ABCDE guide) to a GP so that a referral can be made. This can be done on the NHS. -ends- The British Association of Dermatologists runs the annual Sun Awareness campaign throughout the summer. Case studies are available and spokespeople on skin cancer are also available on request. For more information about skin cancer and Sun Awareness, visit: http://www.bad.org.uk/public/cancer/ Washing powders not cause of eczema, study confirms For immediate release, 21.05.08 Healthcare professionals should not attribute skin reactions to bio washing powders, a new study will warn. According to research due to be released in the British Journal of Dermatology, bio washing detergents are no more harmful to people with eczema than their non-bio counterparts, despite a popular belief to the contrary. Biological (bio) laundry detergents differ from non-biological (non-bio) products in that they contain enzymes, which were first added to assist stain removal. In addition, their efficiency at low temperatures and their biodegradability both offer environmental benefits. However, for years it has been suggested that bio laundry detergents can trigger skin reactions, and that they should be avoided by people with eczema, as the enzymes might worsen the disorder. Interestingly, this line of thought is unique to the UK. This suspicion is thought to have arisen from cases where proteolytic enzymes, the type most commonly used, produced skin irritation, mainly when used occupationally by workers producing a detergent enzyme. Links to eczema when used in normal circumstances have, however, remained unclear and anecdotal. A team of researchers from Nottingham and London therefore conducted a review of evidence, looking at both the actual exposures through use of the product, and at exaggerated levels that would not normally occur through normal use. Dr Sarah Wakelin, Dermatologist at St Mary’s Hospital in London and one of the researchers, said: “In the UK, the background awareness of questions about allergy and irritation has translated into concern among some consumers and consumer groups that enzyme-containing detergents may be related to a variety of consumer skin complaints. Anecdotally at least, a similar view appears to be held by a variety of healthcare professionals. “In this review, we looked at the facts, asking whether there is evidence that the hazards identified for enzymes translate into any risk for consumer health.” Dr Wakelin explained: “What we have found is that ultimately, the balance of all the evidence is that enzymes in laundry detergents are not a cause of either skin irritation or skin allergy. Investigations of numerous individuals with skin complaints attributed to laundry products demonstrate convincingly that enzymes were not responsible. Indeed, enzyme-containing laundry products have an extensive history of safe use. Thus, the supposed adverse effects of enzymes on skin seem to be a consequence of a mythology.” The evidence The same scientists then conducted a study of 360 babies, in which their nappies were washed in the test and experimental products and the nappies worn. There was no difference in the incidence or severity of nappy rash between groups of infants wearing nappies laundered in the products with or without enzymes. In 1975, German researchers specifically tested the enzymes used in detergents, rather than the detergents themselves. These tests were carried out not only on normal skin but also on irritated or damaged skin. The enzyme solutions caused no irritation or other damage to the normal or slightly lesioned skin, even in response to close contact lasting several days. Irritation only occurred when the sin was damaged to an extent that allowed the enzymes to penetrate the lower layers of skin, and in such cases the enzyme concentrations far exceeded those used in commercial detergents. The researchers therefore concluded that any effects caused by laundry detergents are due not to the enzyme content of these detergents, but to other factors. Several studies have also looked at the effects of product residues left on clothes after washing. These studies used fabrics containing detergent residues and a variety of exaggerated exposure tests. In all the studies, no evidence that residues in the fabrics caused irritancy was obtained. Dr Wakelin said: “In terms of allergy, the evidence is consistent with what we know of the physiology of skin allergy. “Thus, the only occasions when there is likely to be some degree of exposure is either to the wash solution (when the enzyme encapsulate has dissolved) or from any enzyme residues on fabrics. As shown by various studies, contact with wash solutions does not lead either to irritation or to allergy, and residues on fabrics are also trivially low and do not give rise to any skin effects.” Dr Colin Holden, President of the British Association of Dermatologists said: “This study highlights that flare-ups of eczema should not just be written of as caused by washing powder. This serves as a reminder to medical professionals that an expert dermatologist should explore all the other potential causes, as bio detergents may well not be the culprit.” -Ends- 2. For more information please contact: Nina Goad, British Association of Dermatologists, Communications Manager, Phone: 0207 391 6355, Email: nina@bad.org.uk, Website: www.bad.org.uk 3. Articles in the BJD can be viewed online: http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/loi/BJD 
Warning from dermatologists as UK children have Europe’s highest skin cancer rates For immediate release, 02.05.08 British parents are confused about the need to protect their children in the sun, despite the fact that children and teenagers in the UK have the highest rates of skin cancers of any European country. That’s the warning from the British Association of Dermatologists today, to mark the start of Sun Awareness Week. According to a study* on skin cancer incidence throughout Europe, the UK has the highest skin cancer rates both for children, aged 0 to 14, and teenagers, aged 15 to 19. Furthermore, cases of melanoma - the deadliest type of skin cancer - increased four-fold in UK teenagers over just two decades (1978 to 1997). Despite this alarming rise, a survey by the British Skin Foundation last year found that a quarter of British parents don’t think it necessary to apply sun protection to their children before they go to school in the summer months, even though many schools do not have shade in the playground. The charity also found that 37 percent of parents buy sunscreens with lower than the recommended SPF30 for their children. Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists said: “Sun Awareness Week starts on a bank holiday as this is when many families will be spending the day outdoors. On the rare occasions that we do get good weather, of course we want to make the most of it – however, often we forget that we need to protect ourselves in the sun, and this is especially true for children whose skin is more sensitive to UV light. “Sunburn as a child can as much as double the chances of skin cancer later in life, so kids need to be protected with sunscreen, clothing and shade when spending time outdoors on sunny days.” Note to editors: * European Journal of Cancer 2006, Volume 42, Issue 13, Pages 2170-2182 (September 2006) The British Association of Dermatologists runs the annual Sun Awareness Week, this year May 5-11, and the Sun Awareness campaign throughout the summer. Case studies are available for the media to complement feature articles and spokespeople on skin cancer are also available on request. For more information about skin cancer and Sun Awareness, visit: http://www.bad.org.uk/public/cancer/ For more information, please contact Nina Goad, Communications Manager, British Association of Dermatologists, email nina@bad.org.uk, tel: 0207 391 6355 |
