Let me tell you a little bit about me and my interests.
Dear friends, thank you for visiting my blog.
My interest in facial skin, different conditions affecting it and the ways to keep it fresh and young for longer started about 3 years ago when I found a trust doctor’s job in the Oral and facial department in a hospital in the north of the UK.
Most days in outpatient clinic I see patients with different skin conditions referred by their GP. Many people would wonder why patients with skin conditions were referred to our Oral and facial department instead to Dermatology department. I would say our specialty is a “surgical” one, while Dermatology focuses on pharmacological management of conditions. If a lesion is suspected to be skin cancer to the head and neck and needs surgical removal, patients are referred to our clinics.
So, it was right there, where my interest started and continues to flourish. Working closely with OMFS consultants from the diagnostic process, through the operation for the cancer removal and reconstruction, through the follow up and eventual discharge.
Facial skin is so delicate and even though reconstructions with rotational flaps or skin grafts are very successful they leave an inevitable scar, difference in color and skin texture. The skin on the nose, for example is “unique” and reconstruction can be very challenging. Modern techniques try to hide the scar lines in the natural creases of the skin however we are people living in a society with such high aesthetic demands, social media pressures can make us very conscious of our facial appearance.
UV exposure and accumulation of UV rays over the years is responsible for most of these skin conditions. Having conversations with patients in clinic about sun protection has shown to me that it is mostly used occasionally, mostly during the summer, when people go on vacations abroad and mostly SPF 15 or 30. I can say I am guilty of this as well. I remember long summers at my grandparents’ house playing outside in the sun all day without SPF. Even as an adult, I can say sun protection was not a priority for a long time.
I have a story on my own to share. Last summer I noticed a tiny red mark on my nose, not painful, not bleeding, not growing. The only irritating thing I noticed was that it was building a thick plaque on top which I used to pick constantly. When I picked the plaque off there was a pink base. It gradually became more noticeable and I was constantly checking it in the mirror. At one point I decided to ask one of the consultants if he could tell me what it was. He looked at it under dermatoscope and said it was “actinic keratosis”. If not treated it could grow into a skin cancer. He prescribed me 5-FU (we can discuss this in more detail later on) to apply on the lesion for 4 weeks. In the next 2-3 months my nose was red and itchy. I was so conscious of it. I was constantly looking at it. I knew everyone could see it. It was not a nice feeling. Now everything is settled but I have a small pinpoint “dip” on my nose where the lesion was.
I would wish there was more awareness about sun protection. I wish there was more conversation about it and it’s importance. Skin conditions can be prevented with a simple solution of daily use of SPF 50 (on skin of face, including ears and the skin of the neck), regardless of season and weather, both for children and adults.
This blog will be dedicated in discussion of skin conditions, prevention, therapies available, skincare, and everything related. I would be more than happy to find out which are the topics that you guys find interesting and would like to learn more about. I check available clinical literature and I share my findings.
I am a very proud mother of two precious boys and happily married to a wonderful man. This man has been so supportive to me through all the long working hours, night shifts, weekend shifts and his own work. Thank you, my beautiful boys!
Thank you very much for reading.
Best wishes,
Venelina