Please don’t. It might just save your life.
Over the last 25 years, rates of Melanoma in Britain have risen faster than any other common cancer and the numbers are doubling every 10-20 years. It is now the most common form of cancer in the UK and is more commonly diagnosed than all other cancers combined. Around 3,500 people die every year in the UK from skin cancer – amazingly we’ve overtaken the sunshine capital of the world – Australia.[1]
And yet the truth is that more than 90% of all skin cancers are preventable and if detected and diagnosed early, the majority are curable! [2] If we can improve our understanding of the importance of safe behaviour and early detection these horrifying figures can be completely reversed.
So, what do we need to know? The sun radiates numerous types of waves; most are absorbed by the ozone layer. UVA(A for ageing) and UVB (B for burning) rays are not completely absorbed and affect us directly by penetrating our skin. UVA rays can penetrate clouds and glass, we are even exposed to damaging UV rays from our devices, fluorescent lighting, even energy saving light bulbs so there’s nowhere to hide. And yes, I know we need sun exposure to maintain adequate formation of Vitamin D, but we only need 20 minutes exposure for that process to occur and that time is shortened in the summer when we are exposed on a daily basis.
Its these damaging UV rays that can lead to the development of skin cancers and “the shocking fact is, is that most of our sun damage occurs when we are teenagers and young adults, damage sustained at this time accumulates and is not diminished by the passage of time.“[3]
I’m always stunned when seemingly intelligent people tell me that they always wear sunscreen when they are abroad or if they go to the seaside. For far too long now we have been under the illusion that in the UK we don’t need sunscreen….we do, and the facts and figures are proof of that misguided belief.
Anyone who comes to my clinic will know only too well my constant ‘nagging’ when it comes to teaching my patients about the importance of wearing a good quality sunscreen ALL DAY, EVERYDAY!
The Golden Rules:
1, Wear a sunscreen every day, reapply every two hours, ensure your product has both UVA and UVB protection and preferably some Antioxidants in, I always prefer mineral based SPF. Don’t get too hung up on the number, a maximum 30 is fine, it’s the frequency of application that is so much more important.
- Avoid UV Sunbeds, they cause skin cancer!
- Cover up as much as you can, t-shirts, big sunglasses, glamourous hats.
- Stay in the shade during the midday sun or high UV Index days.
- Keep an eye on your moles and lesions, look for any changes in either appearance or feeling (ie itchy), if in doubt, get it checked!
There are also many useful resources available, for example ‘My Skin Doctor’ will help with identifying a mole or lesion and give helpful information. It is a downloadable app which you can reach by heading to the following website: https://www.myskindoctor.co.uk/ Also, skcin are a national charity focused on educating the public and early detention, they can be reached here https://www.skcin.org/. Both well worth a look.
[1] https://www.skcin.org/skinCancerInformation/theProblemAndFacts.htm [1] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics-for-the-uk [1]Fernandes, D. and Ernst Eiselen (2015). Vitamin A Skin Science.
[1] https://www.skcin.org/skinCancerInformation/theProblemAndFacts.htm
[2] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics-for-the-uk
[3]Fernandes, D. and Ernst Eiselen (2015). Vitamin A Skin Science.
