ITV's This Morning - Health - Sun Protection

26/06/2009

ITV - This Morning, www.itv.com

Sun protection
Skin cancer is affecting more than twice as many people as it did 20 years ago - every four hours someone in the UK dies from the disease.

But what's more shocking is four out of five cases are preventable with the correct sun protection.

Justine Sheil has been a self-confessed sun-worshipper all her life. But after surviving three bouts of skin cancer she wants to warn others of the dangers of a tan.

Justine says: “I can't tell people not to sit in the sun but I can tell people what happened to me and hope it acts as a warning to them.

“I'm only 38 years old but I have the skin of an 80 year old and more importantly, I risked my life just for a tan, it just doesn't make sense now."

Checking your skin
63% of us don't check our skin for changes. The British Association of Dermatologists created the ABCD-Easy guide to mole checks, to detect the signs of melanoma - the deadliest type of skin cancer.
Asymmetry - the two halves of the area may differ in shape
Border - the edges of the area may be irregular or blurred, and sometimes show notches
Colour - this may be uneven. Different shades of black, brown and pink may be seen
Diameter - most melanomas are at least 6mm in diameter. Report any change in size, shape or diameter to your doctor
Expert - if in doubt, check it out! If your GP is concerned about your skin, make sure you see a Consultant Dermatologist, the most expert person to diagnose a skin cancer. Your GP can refer you via the NHS.

Use the right amount of cream
- At least three tablespoons - about a sixth of a 200ml bottle - are needed to cover an adult body.

- Studies show many people only apply about a quarter of this. Most lotions should be reapplied every two hours but many of us forget after we've been swimming or been exposed to sand and wind.

- Budget creams can be just as effective but check they also offer UVA protection. Another common mistake is underestimating the strength of the sun in the UK. At least half the cases of skin cancer are caused by exposure to the sun at home.

- Remember you can still burn and suffer skin damage on cloudy and overcast days. Replace creams that have been lying around for more than a year.

The facts
- There are two main types of skin cancer: non-melanoma skin cancer, which is very common, and malignant melanoma which is less common but more serious.

- Malignant melanoma has become the most common cancer in women in their 20s - Rates of malignant melanoma have quadrupled in the past three decades.

- More than 2,000 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK with sunbeds alone causing 100 deaths a year.
- In the UK, more than 100,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually, making it the most common cancer. Of these, 9,000 are melanoma.

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