28 July 2008
Local skin experts at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust and Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust are encouraging people to be SMART in the sun this year.
Skin cancer is a fast growing concern in the UK, where there are now more deaths from the disease every year than in Australia. To make things worse, experts are concerned that young people may not be taking safety messages seriously, which could be potentially lead to a skin cancer 'time bomb'.
Dr Chris Harland, consultant dermatologist at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, is urging sun worshipers from Epsom, Sutton, Merton and the surrounding areas to take heed of the vital Cancer Research SMART guidelines:
Stay in the shade between 11am - 3pm;
Make sure you never burn;
Always cover up with a T-shirt, wide brimmed hat and sunglasses;
Remember to take extra care with children;
Then use factor 30 + sunscreen and re-apply frequently at least every two hours, after getting wet or if you think it may have rubbed off.
The dangers of skin cancer should not be underestimated. Approximately 80,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in the UK with 2,300 deaths annually.
People most at risk are those with:
- Fair skin that burns in strong sun;
- Red or fair hair;
- Lot of moles and freckles;
- A personal or family history of skin cancer;
- Experience of sunburn, especially when young.
As a general rule, the paler your skin, the more careful you should be in the sun. Babies and children need extra protection from the sun because their skin is delicate and easily damaged.
Dr Harland said: "Cancer Research UK reports a worrying gap between how much people know about skin cancer and how little they actually do to protect themselves in the sun against the disease.
"Around 72,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are registered each year but it is estimated that the actual number is at least 100,000 cases in the UK every twelve months. The number of cases has almost tripled since the early 80s.
"Most skin cancers are caused by damage from ultraviolet rays in sunlight. These cancers could be prevented if we protect ourselves from the sun.
"More people are starting to take notice of the sun safety message and do apply sunscreens when out in the sun, but they do not always take precautions at other times. For example, people often do not use any sun protection when out shopping, working or gardening.
"Just because you are not out to catch the sun, it doesn't mean the sun won't catch you. Cloudy or windy days can be very deceptive and although we can feel cool, the burning rays of sun can still get through and cause skin damage."
Philip Watkins, dermatology nurse specialist for Sutton and Merton Primary Care Trust, said that there were a few practical tips people can use to stay safe: "Always use a sunscreen that protects from UVA and UVB light. Water resistant brands help to avoid washing sunscreen off skin during sweating and swimming. It is also worth checking use-by dates as sunscreens go off after a certain time."
