Staying Skin Safe This Summer

Malignant melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and 1 in 54 people will be diagnosed with malignant melanoma during their lifetime according to the latest figures released by Cancer Research UK.

Around 15,400 new cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in the UK each year; that’s around 42 new cases diagnosed every day. Yet it is thought 86% of these could have been prevented.

Consultant occupational health physician, Dr Yousef Habbab of AXA PPP Healthcare told Belle About Town: “Malignant melanoma is a very serious and aggressive form of skin cancer worldwide, and around 2,460 people die from it each year in the UK. However, early diagnosis with no spread to any part of the body could significantly increase the likelihood of the cancer being cured by simply removing it.”

What causes malignant melanomas?

There is one main preventable factor that increases the risk of developing melanoma – ultraviolet light (radiation). Ultraviolet light comes from the sun or sunbeds. But some people are more at risk of getting melanoma than others, as this page explains. Over exposure to sunlight can cause patches of rough, dry skin called solar keratoses. Studies show that people with solar keratoses have a risk of melanoma on their head, neck or limbs that is 4 times higher than the general population.

Moles and melanoma

Moles are clusters of cells that produce a pigment in the skin and it is normal to have them. Melanomas develop when those cells behave abnormally and invade the skin around moles or spread to other areas such as the lymph nodes, liver and lungs. Some of us have more moles than others. The more moles on the body, the higher the risk of melanoma. That doesn’t mean that someone will definitely get melanoma if they have lots of moles. However, it does mean that those people should be more careful about exposure to the sun, and certainly keep a watchful eye on all their moles.

What are the warning signs

It’s important to keep a look out for things that may be signs of something more serious than an innocent mole, particularly if they have changed in shape, colour or sensation. All melanomas do not look the same and there are several different types.

Follow the ‘ABCDE’ rule below as a melanoma may show one or more of the following features:

A – asymmetry (an irregular shaped mole)

B – borders (ragged edges)

C – colour change or a mole that is a different colour in one part than in another

D – diameter (any increase in size, but particularly more than about 6mm across)

E – elevation (raising from the surface, especially if it is irregularly raised)

Melanomas can appear on any part of the skin but they are most common in men on the trunk, and in women on the legs.

Who is at risk?

High risk groups include those with fair skin who burn easily, people with lots of moles, those with a family history of melanomas, those who were sunburnt in childhood and those with weakened immune system.

How are melanomas treated?

There are a number of factors that a specialist will consider when they plan treatment. The main factor is how deeply the melanoma has grown into the skin, and whether it has spread (the stage). Surgery is the main treatment for people with early melanoma. If the cancer has spread (advanced melanoma), then treatment may involve biological therapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

5 top tips for protecting your skin from sun damage

1. Use sunscreen – even on cloudy days

Applying sunscreen to your skin before you go outside during the summer months and on cloudy days (UV rays get through clouds) helps reduce the risk of skin damage. Sunscreens are useful for protecting our skin from the sun’s rays, but will not protect us completely from sun damage on their own. Use them together with shade or clothing to avoiding sunburn.If you have fair skin or if you burn very easily, you will need the highest level of protection. Even if your skin tends to tan rather than burn, it’s still important to take care in the sun and use sunscreen.If you have naturally brown or black skin, the extra melanin pigment in the skin cells may provide a bit more protection against harm from UV rays but sun protection is still necessary.

When choosing sunscreen, you should:

• Choose a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. The SPF provides protection against burning and UVB damage.
• Look for sunscreens that are labelled ‘broad-spectrum’ as this shows they protect you from UVB and UVA damage. This is shown using a star rating system, so look for at least 4 or 5 stars for good protection.
• Apply sunscreen liberally to clean dry skin, ideally before other skincare products.
• Apply approximately two teaspoons of sunscreen to cover your arms, neck and face, and up to two tablespoons to cover your body.
• Follow the manufactures instructions and re-apply frequently
• Re-apply after you’ve been in water. Sunscreen can be easily washed, rubbed or sweated off and even sunscreens that claim to be ‘waterproof’ should be reapplied after going in the water.
• Don’t forget to check the expiry date – most sunscreens have a shelf life of two to three years.
• Don’t store sunscreens in very hot places as extreme heat can ruin their protective chemicals.

2. Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm

Midday hours are when the sun is at its hottest and highest in the sky. Find shade under trees, umbrellas, canopies or move indoors. A simple way to find out when the sun’s rays are at their strongest is to look at your shadow – if it’s shorter than your height, this means that the sun’s UV rays are strong and you need to be particularly careful.

3. Cover up

When there’s no shade around, cover exposed areas, such as your arms or legs (close-weave clothes offer the most protection against UV rays) and wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your head.

4. Wear protective sunglasses

Overexposure to UV rays can damage the eyes too. Too much UV can lead to cataracts and rare types of eye cancer.

When choosing sunglasses look for the following:

• The ‘CE Mark’, which shows they conform to European standards
• The British Standard (BS EN 1836)
• A UV 400 label or 100% UV protection label.

5. Avoid sunbeds

Sunbeds are a risk factor as it exposes the skin to high levels of radiation. Ongoing concern about the use of sunbeds has led to the use of them being banned by law to anyone aged under-18 in the UK. If you’re keen to have a tan, the safest way to achieve it is to use fake tan.

• For more information on staying safe in the sun, visit AXA PPP healthcare.