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Dangerous beauty

Sandhya Menon

Sunday, July 09, 2006 17:18 IST

Think hair colour is cool and that little mole on your lip sexy? Well, think again! The most innocent things could lead to the big C.

Scare: HighlightsResearchers at Catalan Institute of Oncology in Barcelona found an overall 19 percent increased risk of lymphoma among people who reported colouring their hair.

Doc speak: “Colourists say colour is being applied away from the roots but hair is semi-permeable, so the colour will travel to the roots,” says trichologist, Dr Apoorva Shah.

Damage control: “If you limit colouring to about 8 to 10 months a year, you should be okay,” says aestheticienne, Dr Jamuna Pai.

Scare: Sun worshippingIndian skin with its high melanin content isn’t a prime candidate for skin cancer. However, a sun block with an SPF 30 is a must while outdoors.

Doc speak: “Unless you are a die-hard tanning fan or spend more than average time in the sun, it’s highly unlikely that you might get skin cancer,” asserts Dr Kohli.

Damage control: Load up on sun block and sunscreen lotions. “If skin cancer does occur, surgical removal is a must,” says Dr Kohli.

Scare: MolesThe reason Cindy Crawford’s moles disappeared overnight was because those little spots could be cancerous.

Doc speak: “Not all moles are cancerous but it’s best to go to a specialist if you suspect anything,” says dermatologist, Dr Malavika Kohli.

Damage control: “If moles increase in size, itch or begin to bleed spontaneously, it’s best to get them surgically removed,” says Dr Kohli while stressing that a mole growing over the years is nothing to worry about.m_sandhya@dnaindia.net

posted by Cheryl Levesque @ 1:46 PM