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New protective armour for falls and sporting support
Skin spots Did you know that the Sunshine State is the skin cancer capital of the world? In Queensland, melanoma rates reach 40 per cent higher than the national average. Every day, five Australians lose their lives to melanoma, which is sometimes barely visible to the naked eye. But 99 per cent of skin cancers are curable if detected and treated early, which is why experts recommend regular skin checks. “A full skin cancer check is the best place to start to ensure your skin is healthy and safe,” Professor David Wilkinson, Chief Medical Officer of National Skin Cancer Centres said. “Your Skin Cancer Doctor can provide you with peace of mind that there are no nasty surprises which could lead to serious problems if left undiagnosed and untreated. “Early detection through regular full-body skin cancer checks is the best defence. Our mission is to detect skin cancers in the early stages to minimise complex, invasive and expensive treatments, and ultimately save lives.” Between professional skin checks, we can look out for lesions that stand out as different from the others. Check for any sores that won’t heal, freckles that have recently developed or changed, or areas that are crusting, itching, or bleeding. If anything looks suspicious, get it checked. Skin cancer can develop very fast and become fatal, and sometimes shows no signs until an advanced stage.
Queenslanders can be at particularly high risk of skin cancer if they are over 40, male, or have a personal or family history of skin cancer. The risk is also higher for people who have experienced severe sunburn, used a solarium, worked outdoors, or have multiple moles, fair skin, or light-coloured hair or eyes. Fortunately, a lifetime of sun exposure can be addressed before it takes a toll on our skin health. Spring is a great time to address existing skin damage and early signs of ageing. “In addition to a skin cancer check, many of our patients who have seen too much sun over their lives benefit from skin repair and rejuvenation treatments to improve skin health and appearance,” says Prof Wilkinson. Select locations at the National Skin Cancer Centres provide skin repair and rejuvenation services for comprehensive management of patients’ skin health, including LED light therapy and cosmetic injectable treatments. “It’s never too late to repair sun damaged skin. “We see lots of patients with dehydrated or dry skin. Some are experiencing flare-ups of rosacea or acne. At this time of year, many people are thinking about getting their skin summer-ready, so they want to start a treatment regime with long-term benefits.” To find the nearest location at the National Skin Cancer Centres throughout Queensland, visit skincancercentres.com.au.
Stephanie Bofinger, serted or removed as needed. “Falls are a major issue, affecting one in three people over the age of 65 and half of people over the age of 80,” Stephanie said. “And the proportion of people over 65 is forecast to grow from about 3.5 million now to more than 20% of the population at more than 8 million in 2050. “A lot of elderly people die from their injuries or from complications from their injury. Of those who survive, their health is impacted and only a third retain mobility.” Armour can also be used by women across a range of sports – from motorsports, cycling and equestrian to rugby league, netball, basketball, hockey, skating and skiing, or martial arts – and professional fields such as law enforcement, or working with large animals. The garments are made from soft, breathable bamboo fabrics and recycled bottles and fishnets, and all protective armour is European Certified (CE level 1 and 2), and can be worn comfortably under everyday clothing. About Fempro Armour: Fempro Armour produces high quality European Certified body protection armour and apparel to protect women involved in impact sports or those over 65. It uses a ground-breaking “smart” polymer technology to design armour and apparel to comfortably fit women of all shapes and sizes. More info femproarmour.com
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The death of her grandmother has inspired Brisbane woman Stephanie Bofinger to launch a new product aimed at protecting women during sport and those over 65 from major injuries caused by falls. Stephanie Bofinger was inspired to create Fempro Armour – a lightweight, wearable “armour” to protect women and older men, after her family tragedy. “I was heartbroken when my grandmother died from other complications while having surgery for a broken hip which could have been prevented,” Stephanie said. “Ageing – and particularly things such as dementia and Parkinson’s – affects elderly people’s stability and their risk of falling is far greater. “Whether they are falling from a chair or a motorbike, the impact is the same. “And just because they are old doesn’t mean they have to wear something ugly to protect themselves - what’s on the market now is bulky and heavy.” She said the Armour could also be used by women across a range of sports – from motorsports, cycling and equestrian to rugby league, netball, basketball, hockey, skating and skiing, or martial arts – and professional fields such as law enforcement, or working with large animals. The garments are made from soft, breathable bamboo fabrics and recycled bottles and fishnets, and all protective armour is European Certified (CE level 1 and 2), and can be worn comfortably under everyday clothing. The Fempro Armour range grew from Stephanie’s research into protective gear designed specifically to fit women involved in impact sports – after she struggled to find motorcycle sports protection that fit her properly. Using a revolutionary memory foam technology, the armour can protect the chest, hip, elbow, shoulder and back and is lightweight and flexible. The viscoelastic memory foam is lightweight but still incredibly impact absorbent – and softens further, becoming even more comfortable, with body heat. However, with the death of her grandmother she realised that they would also be useful for those who weren’t as mobile. She said each year one third of people aged 65 or older will experience a fall – with many resulting in serious injury or even death. Falls account for 42% of all hospital injury cases in Australia. Of those, more than half (58%) were people aged 65 or older – while 95% of all deaths from accidental falls were among the elderly, the majority of them women. The range of singlets, long-sleeve tops and pull-on pants can be worn discreetly under regular clothing, and armour pieces can even be in-
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