Picato Gel Approved by SMC

The Scottish Medicines consortium this month accepted the use of Picator Gel by the NHS in Scotland to be used when treating sufferers of actinic keratosis.

Our chair Leigh Smith had this to say: "It is really positive news for patients in Scotland that Picato® has been approved by the SMC as it offers a simple, short, two or three day treatment for actinic keratosis. Scotland has a high proportion of people with fair skin, which burns quickly in the sun, these people are at a particularly high risk of developing actinic keratosis, and possibly even skin cancer. It is therefore very important for Scots to be aware of changes to their skin and obtain an expert opinion on anything that does not heal and disappear within a few weeks. Preventing sunburn is an important step to help prevent skin cancer, while getting 10 to 20 minutes' sun exposure around lunch time each day is thought to give adequate vitamin D levels."


Dr Girish Gupta, Consultant Dermatologist, Monklands District General Hospital, Glasgow, commented: "As a dermatologist it is interesting that Scots will have access to a new treatment applied just once a day, for two or three days, for actinic keratosis, a common skin condition caused by sun damage. Other currently available patient applied therapies can require weeks or months of treatment." Dr Gupta added: "To minimise the risk of developing into skin cancer early detection and treatment of actinic keratosis is important and Picato® now offers us a new option, with a strong evidence base and high levels of adherence (>98%) in clinical studies, to discuss with our patients."

Gel Manicure UV lamps pose Skin Cancer Risk

Over the last few days it has been reported that the gel manicures which utilize UV lights pose a risk of skin cancer. 

The findings came from a study by The Skin Cancer Foundation in the US. "Although studies have shown that the skin cancer risk associated with UVR-emitting nail lamps for gel manicures is very low, it is not insignificant," says Elizabeth K. Hale, M.D., vice president of the Skin Cancer Foundation. 

With the use of UV lights the possibility of contracting skin cancer is always there and no matter how insignificant the risk it is still a risk which you should seek to avoid. 


You can find more information on this topic at the links below:

• http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/blogs/daily-beauty-reporter/2013/03/are-salon-uv-nail-lamps-safe.html
• http://www.refinery29.com/2013/03/44039/gel-manicure-lights-cause-cancer