As we welcome the start of the summer season, many of us will be looking forward to getting some much needed sun therapy.

Yet despite numerous awareness campaigns and warnings issued over the last ten years over the safety of exposure to the sun and the emphasis on protecting our skin against harmful UV rays, for some of us the safety advice has arrived too late. 

Sun damage accumulates over time so skin damage caused by the sun is usually a result of repeated over-exposure and burning as opposed to a recent sunbathing episode, meaning it might only be as you get older that the signs become apparent.

So how do you recognise the signs of sun damage? And how can you tell the difference between old age spots and symptoms of what is commonly known as Solar Keratosis?

Well the latter can often present itself as raised, red areas of skin which are itchy, prickly or tender, and as it develops over time as crusty, scaly lesions which won’t heal. It is more likely to appear on areas exposed to the sun, such as the face, arms and even on the lower half of the neck.

It is vital to regularly check your skin for any changes. Whilst damage is less obvious in the winter, if left unchecked the most serious cases can lead to a form of skin cancer, known as non-malignant melanoma.

Fortunately the condition is treatable, so don’t panic, just make sure that you seek medical advice as early diagnosis is important.

If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one then log onto this live webTV show where Dr Rob Hicks will be revealing the facts about sun damaged skin and what you should look out for.

Watch this live webTV show with Dr Rob Hicks for the real facts about sun damage http://www.studiotalk.tv/show/still_risking_it_or_has_the_damage_already_been_done on Friday 18th June at 3.30pm to discuss skin damage.

Third Agers can send in questions before and during the show to be answered live by using the following direct link to where the show will be streamed. Once the show has finished it will then later be available to watch on demand through the same links.

http://iframeplayer.studiotalk.tv/chat/still_risking_it_or_has_the_damage_already_been_done

For more information visit www.sundamagedskin.co.uk.

Editor, Third Age.