May marks Skin Cancer Awareness Month and skin cancer specialists at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust have issued a reminder that there is no safe limit to sun exposure.
Jamie Tiffin, Advanced Clinical Practitioner for Dermatology, said: “Did you know that Cumbria has some of the highest skin cancer rates in the UK?
“The risk of melanoma increases with age; however, rates of skin cancer are increasing, especially in those under 50, and melanoma is the third most common cancer for people between 15 and 35. However, 90% of skin cancers are preventable, which is why we’re reminding you how to reduce your risk.”
The biggest risk factor is UV (ultraviolet) exposure from the sun or sunbeds.
Melanie Leeder, Skin Cancer Specialist Nurse said: “A lot of people think using sunbeds is safe, but what they don’t realise is sunbeds expose you to high levels of UV, often higher than the midday sun. This radiation damages the skin cells over time, which can lead to skin cancer, including the most dangerous type, known as melanoma. In the UK, thousands of skin cancer cases are directly linked to sunbed use, which makes it the most preventable cause.
“Using a sunbed under the age of 35 increases your chance of melanoma by 75%, so there is no such thing as a safe sunbed or safe ‘base tan’.”
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The good news is most skin cancers are preventable and treatable when caught early.
Tiree Holmes, who is also a Skin Cancer Specialist Nurse, explains the importance of using sunscreen and SPF and debunks some myths that they hear in the clinic around sunscreens being toxic or containing harmful ingredients.
Tiree said: “Before any sun cream in the UK reaches any shelves, it goes through rigorous scientific testing, including safety assessments, laboratory testing, and then human clinical trials. The rates of skin cancer and melanoma are rising every year and the evidence to use sunscreen far outweighs any evidence against using it.
“When buying sunscreen, the label should have a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB and at least 4-star UVA protection, with 5-star being the best.
“UVA protection can also be indicated by the letters "UVA" in a circle, which indicates that it meets the EU standard.
“Make sure the sunscreen is not past its expiry date. This is marked by a symbol of an open jar, an M and a number, which shows how many months the sunscreen will last once it's been opened.”
Looking out for signs and symptoms of skin cancer
Joanna Kennell, Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner for skin cancer explains what you should be looking out for, particularly for melanoma.
Joanna said: “Many people think melanoma is obvious, but it can be missed or overlooked. Here is exactly what to look out for on your skin, using the ABCDE rule:
- A is for Asymmetry: benign moles are usually symmetrical, so if one half doesn’t match the other, this is something to take note of
- B is for Border: border is usually smooth and even. If it’s uneven, the edges are irregular, blurred or jagged, this can be a warning sign
- C is for Colour: look out for more than one colour or uneven colour. It can be brown, black, red, white, or pink.
- D is for Diameter: anything larger than around 6mm (roughly the size of a pencil rubber) is worth getting checked. Smaller ones can still be concerning so be sure to look at the other symptoms.
- E is for Evolving: any change in size, colour, symptoms like bleeding need a medical opinion.
“My top tips are:
- To check your skin on a regular basis, not forgetting areas like your back, your scalp, your feet, and the backs of your ears.
- Anything that is bleeding, non-heeling or growing needs to be looked at
- Melanoma isn’t always black or brown, it can be pink
- Use the ugly duckling rule: our moles should look like siblings, so if one mole stands out, that needs to be looked at.
“If you spot anything new, changing, or that just doesn’t feel right, please get it checked out. We’re here to help you.”
Michelle Batchelor, Cancer Care Coordinator for Dermatology, said: “Please trust your instincts, you know your skin best, and if you feel that something is not right, please get it checked out via your GP. Share this information with anyone you think might not know what to look out for.”
For more information, there are helpful resources, such as: