insideKENT Magazine Issue 89 - August 2019 | Page 123

Heading off on your summer holiday? Understand the Risks of Skin Cancer The summer heat of 2019 has not matched that of 2018, but that does not mean you can ignore the importance of sun protection, particularly if you are heading off to warmer climates over the coming weeks. It is more important than ever to ensure you take adequate measures to protect your skin. Skin cancer incidence rates are rising year on year and have more than doubled since the early 1990s (128%). Myth Having a tan is healthy. Truth There is no such thing as a healthy tan. Over exposure to sun can cause blistering sunburn or tanning of the skin. Both are signs of DNA damage caused by the harmful UV rays, which can significantly increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Remember to take adequate sun protection measures: Slip on a shirt, Slap on a hat, Slop on sunscreen (minimum 30 with 5 star rating), Seek shade and Slide on Sunglasses. It is now the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with a roughly even split between men and women. One Ashford Hospital’s Consultant Dermatologist Dr. Juber Hafiji is a leading skin cancer expert, and he sees patients on a daily basis with suspected skin cancer and patients often ask him common myths relating to the skin and sun exposure, which he has dispelled below. Myth Teenagers and young people do not need to worry about skin cancer. It only affects older people. Myth Dark skinned men and women are not at risk of sun damage and skin cancer. Truth Melanoma is the most common cancer in young adults, ages 25 – 29 and it is steadily increasing more in women aged 15 - 29 than in men of the same age group. Check your skin monthly and be alert to changes in the number, size, shape and colour of your moles on your skin. Sores that fail to heal can be an early sign of non-melanoma skin cancers. Truth Although darker skinned people have a much lower risk of skin cancer than fair skinned people, this does not make them immune to skin cancer. Darker skinned individuals should still take action to protect their skin and eyes from overexposure to the sun to reduce the risk of UV damage. Skin cancers in people with darker skin are often not detected until later stages when it can be more dangerous. If in doubt, check it out! Myth I do not need to wear sun screen in cloudy weather. Myth Using sunbeds before I go on holiday will help protect my skin in the sun while on holiday. Truth 80% of the sun’s ultraviolet light passes through clouds. Appropriate sun protection measures are crucial, which includes applying sunscreen all year round, especially if you have fair skin or are at high risk of developing skin cancer. Truth Using sunbeds causes DNA damage and significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer in later life. It also causes premature ageing of the skin – not good when you need all the help you can when you turn 50! The only safe way to ‘tan’ is from a bottle. One Ashford Hospital G T William Harvey Hospital Ashford H A 20 70 Kennington Road, Ashford TN24 0YS J10 Telephone: [phone] Ashford town centre 92 A2 M 20 Tesco HY TH E RO AD www.oneashfordhospital.co.uk [email protected]