Check and protect your skin

May is melanoma and skin cancer awareness month, an opportunity for us to speak up about the dangers of skin cancer and share facts about sun protection and early detection to help save lives.

Melanoma is now the 5th most common form of cancer in the UK. It can affect anyone; however, it is the most common cancer in females aged 20-24. You could also have an increased chance of getting melanoma with age, if you have pale skin, a large number of moles and a family history of skin cancer.

Knowing the symptoms:

The two most common signs of melanoma are:

• The appearance of a new mole on your body
• A change in an existing mole (such as a change in shape, colour bleeding or itching)

Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun.

Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals.

Check your skin for any unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see.

If you have noticed changes in your moles contact your GP.  Many moles do NOT end up being anything serious, however, it is always important to be diagnosed early as early-stage melanomas are generally curable.

Visit the NHS website for more information and images on the signs and symptoms of skin cancer.

The Melanoma Focus website also has a useful ‘Know your skin and nails’ leaflet to help aid early detection.

How to protect your skin:

Nearly 9 in 10 cases of melanoma could be prevented by staying safe in the sun and avoiding sunbeds.

• Keep your arms and legs covered and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that provide protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays.
• If you have exposed areas, apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection liberally 15 to 30 minutes before going out into the sun.
• Don’t rub the sunscreen into your skin, spread the sunscreen as uniformly as possible over the surface of the skin and allow to dry.
• Re-apply every 2 hours or after an activity that could remove sunscreen, such as swimming, or excessive sweating
• Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (between 11am to 3pm)
• Make sure babies and children are protected from the sun – their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin.

Remember, you still need to look after your skin even on cloudy days. The sun still emits UV light, which penetrates clouds and can result in sunburn.