The Minster Practice, Lichfield
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| Last updated 13/03/2007 Regularly and frequently apply
sun protection
cream, at
least SPF 15. (Waterproof if
swimming). Ensure that the cream protects against UVA (radiation that ages the
skin) as well as UVB (radiation that burns). Remember that this cream is not to
allow extra time in the sun but to protect against the sun you cannot
avoid. The figures are calculated in
a laboratory so SPF 15 does NOT mean you can spend 15 times longer than usual in
the sun. You should not even start to go pink as that indicates skin damage from
burning!! Take extra care with children. Sunburn at a young age is associated with development of serious skin cancer in adulthood. This includes malignant melanoma. Keep babies out of the sun AND use sun cream. For children under 3 use at least SPF25. Children under age 16 should not use sunbeds. Find out more at www.sunsmart.org.uk and http://www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en Protect eyes with good quality sunglasses. Good quality does not mean high cost. Health Which? magazine found a 99p pair that gave as good protection as a designer pair at £89. The British Standard to look for is EN 1836:1997. The darkness of the lenses bears no relation to UV protection; indeed the dark lenses cause the pupil to enlarge potentially exposing the retina to more damage.
The Ultraviolet (UV) Solar Index. You may see this index published in newspapers. You can still burn on a cloudy day. This index takes account of the UV radiation that comes through cloud. Low risk means no harm likely; medium risk means avoid open sun for more than 1 to 2 hours; high risk means you could burn in 30 to 60 minutes; very high means you could burn in 20 to 30 minutes. If risk is high or highest stay out of direct sunlight, cover up as mush as possible and use sunscreen of at least factor 15. The risk varies according to your skin type.
Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous skin cancer. The commonest type in the UK is the superficial spreading melanoma. Moles may develop into melanoma or indicate an increased risk for melanoma so it is important to inspect the skin regularly to identify any changes in moles that may indicate the need for further investigation. However, the lifetime risk of a mole transforming to a malignant melanoma is low. The risk that a single mole in a 30 year old will become a melanoma by age 80 is 38 in 100,000 for men and 11 in 100,000 for women. The lifetime risk that a mole will become a melanoma in a 50 year old man is 1 in 2000 and in a 50 year old woman is 1 in 9000. Moles usually stay the same size (usually less than 6mm), shape and colour for years. They typically are of even single shade of colour (brown, tan or black), have smooth even borders, are flat or raised, round or oval. They can appear at any age and several may appear at the same time particularly in areas that have been exposed to the sun. They are most frequently found on the legs in women and on the trunk in men but can occur anywhere. The ABCD system has been developed to help you remember what to look for when looking for changes that may suggest a melanoma is developing. A is for Asymmetry: melanomas are usually asymmetrical B is for Border: melanomas frequently have uneven or irregular borders C is for Colour: melanomas often contain multiple shades of brown or black D is for Diameter: early melanomas are often more than 6mm in diameter Follow this link for advice on how to examine yourself http://www.melanoma.com/ Follow this link to see what melanoma looks like http://www.melanoma.com/
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