“I have seen numerous stories going around about the ever-evolving bandage on my face, with some of you wondering why I’ve been wearing one for the past few weeks,” said Khloé Kardashian, while detailing a recent health scare on Instagram Stories. “After noticing a small bump on my face and ᴀssuming it was something as minor as a zit, I decided to get it biopsied, seven months after realising it was not budging.”
After seeing two top Los Angeles dermatologists – Dr Tess Mauricio and Dr Daniel Behroozan – and undergoing a biopsy, Kardashian was subsequently urged to have an “immediate operation” to remove what turned out to be, according to her family surgeon and friend Dr Garth Fischer, a “dangerous and significant” tumour on her cheek. Luckily, they caught the melanoma early enough to remove it completely: “I was lucky and all I have is a scar to tell the story with,” said Khloé.
Kardashian’s experience is a lesson to us all. Having previously suffered a melanoma on her back aged 19 (which she also had surgically removed), the reality star revealed she was sharing her story as a reminder to her followers to get their skin checked out frequently. Most dermatologists recommend going for an annual mole and skin check-up and, in between, developing a relationship with our skin, in order to know what’s normal and what’s not.
“When looking at any mole or lesion on your body, you should observe whether they are symmetrical, have a uniform colour and border, and do not change dramatically over the course of a few months,” explains Dr Dev Shah, consultant dermatologist and skin surgeon at OneWelbeck, which offers skin mapping using a whole body 3D imaging system. “If you are over the age of 30 and have a new mole or lesion that does not go away within a month, you should get this checked.” Equally, if a mole becomes symptomatic (ie itches, bleeds or feels painful), then make sure to visit your GP
Another essential thing to note is that daily use of a good broad spectrum SPF (factor 30 or higher), is key to protecting skin as much as possible from sun damage. You should wear it even on the cloudiest day, and be religious about applying thoroughly. Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting previously told Vogue that it’s important to apply SPF generously to the skin. “You need to paint your face like you’re painting a wall!” she said, advising a quarter of a teaspoon as the optimal quanтιтy for the face and neck.
And if you do ever have to have face surgery, then get yourself a girl like make-up artist Ash K Holm, who accompanied Kardashian on a recent trip to Paris. “Need to give a shout out to @Ash_Kholm who has been dealing with my bandages face for weeks and weeks now – and she has still been killing the make-up game,” wrote Kardashian. “I hope you enjoy how fabulous I’m making these face bandages look.”
