NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance’s #beskinsmart team is packing up its shades, cover-ups and sun cream ready to hit the beach this month (August).
The team is taking its skin cancer awareness roadshow to the seaside to highlight the importance of:
- being skin smart
- staying safe in the sun
- regularly checking your skin for new moles or changes to existing ones.
Join to find out more about being skin smart in:
- Folkestone, near Sunny Sands, The Stade, CT19 6AU on Wednesday 17 August between 10am and 3pm
- Sheerness, at the Big Summer Bash, Beachfields area, ME12 1HH on Thursday 18 August 2022 between 11am and 2pm
- Broadstairs, near Viking Bay, Broadstairs, CT10 1QS on Wednesday 31 August 2022 between 10am and 3pm.
‘preventable’
Up to 90 per cent of skin cancers are preventable by adopting simple sun-safe strategies.
Skin cancer is also one of the only cancers we can physically see developing in its early stages and if detected, diagnosed and treated early enough, almost all cases are curable.
Learning about the risks associated with UV exposure, how to prevent skin cancer and how to spot the early signs and symptoms - saves lives.
Dr Tina George, Early Diagnosis Clinical Lead, Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance said: “During the summer it’s important we take care of our skin while out in the sun.
“Some simple steps can help keep our skin safe and reduce the risk of developing skin cancer.
“If you do notice new moles or changes to existing ones, it’s important you contact your GP practice as soon as possible.
“It may not be anything to worry about, but it’s best to get checked by a professional because early diagnosis makes treatments more effective and many early-stage skin cancers can be cured altogether.”
For more information: www.nhs.uk/conditions/non-melanoma-skin-cancer/
Stay sun safe
No matter the colour of your skin, staying safe in the sun reduces your chances of suffering from skin cancer.
There are some simple steps you can follow to be skin smart:
- Avoid being in the sun from 11am to 3pm, the hottest part of the day.
- Make sure you apply sun cream regularly and try never to get sunburn.
- Your sun cream should have an SPF of at least factor 30, and a minimum of a four-star rating.
- Wear a hat and stay covered up with suitable clothes and sunglasses.
Find out how to stay safe in the sun at nhs.net/sun
Check your skin
Make sure you regularly check your skin for new moles, or changes to existing ones. Know your ABCDEs when it comes to checking.
If you notice anything unusual, always contact your GP straight away.
A – Asymmetry: Both halves don’t look the same.
B – Border: The mole has blurred or jagged edges.
C – Colour: The mole has more than one colour.
D – Diameter: Grows larger than 6mm.
E – Evolution: Changes size, shape or colour.
For more information visit nhs.uk/skincancer
