insideKENT Magazine Issue 82 - January 2019 | Page 3

Heading off for some winter sun? Understand the Risks of Skin Cancer The summer of 2018 turned out to be one of the hottest on record, which means 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%). 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 Myth Myth Having a tan is healthy. Teenagers and young people do not need to worry about skin cancer. It only affects older people. Dark skinned men and women are not at risk of sun damage and skin cancer. 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. Truth Truth Melanoma is the most common cancer in young adults, aged 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. 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! Do you have Private Health Insurance? If you have private health insurance, it is worth noting that the cost of your care could be covered, so it is worth checking your policy. One Ashford Hospital G T William Harvey Hospital Ashford H A 20 Kennington Road, Ashford TN24 0YS Telephone: [phone] www.oneashford.co.uk [email protected] 70 J10 20 Ashford town centre 92 A2 M 20 Tesco HY TH E RO AD *Dependent on Consultant availability. **Terms & Conditions apply.