We’ve all heard the statistic that the skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It keeps our stuff in and keeps the outside world out, as well a notifying us of danger, pleasure, heat and cold. The skin of the Mr or Mrs Average weighs around 3.6kg, and if stretched out- a gruesome thought! It would be about 2m squared. If you are a spectacle wearer, your skin might just cause a few problems during the everyday wear and tear of specs perched on your nose, so take note of some hints and tips to keep your wonderful skin, and your specs in tip-top condition.

We see a couple of very common problems with the skin regularly in practice. Mostly we deal with sores and broken skin due to badly fitting glasses, usually where the specs have suffered an accident and the frame is way out of line. This causes holes in noses and behind the ears. Unfortunately these areas have very little padding, they are mostly skin over bone, and it only takes a day or two of constant wear to cause damage. If your specs are uncomfortable, don’t keep wearing them! Pop an old pair on until you can get your specs adjusted, by posting them to the online optician or going to a High Street store. If you don’t have a spare, use a pinch of cotton wool under the affected area to relieve the pressure. Creams etc may make the skin worse, so keep it clean and dry. Take your glasses off whenever it’s safe to do so, to allow the area to heal.

The other common problem is a rash due to allergies. Many frames have a base of Nickel Silver, and this is a common allergy danger point. Or frames come in that have chipped or scratched, exposing the metal base. When new, frames have several layers of protective lacquer, but this can be eaten away by skin acids and pollutants over time. There are two things you can do to help with this – choose a hypoallergenic frame, such as Titanium, and look after your glasses really well! Wash them with warm soapy water every night after wear, and this will stop the build up of harmful substances that can damage your frames.

So remember, prevention is better than cure and a little maintenance will serve you well. Look after your glasses and they’ll look after your skin!