Provided By: Liverpool Community Health
As warmer weather approaches and people start thinking about their summer holidays, Liverpool Community Health (LCH) NHS Trust is encouraging people to educate themselves on how to stay sun smart this summer.
Supported by LCH, Sun Awareness week will be taking place from May 5-11 2015 and aims to raise awareness of skin cancer and the risks of over-exposure to the sun.
Skin cancer is now one of the most common forms of cancers in the UK - and it is still on the increase. According to British Association of Dermatologists, more than 250,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer - the most common type - are diagnosed each year, in addition to about 13,000 new cases of melanoma, the deadliest form.
Those at greatest risk to skin damage from the sun include people with fairer skin, people with lots of moles or freckles, those with a personal or family history of skin cancer, as well as babies and young children.
Tina Davies Taylor, Service Lead, cancer awareness for Liverpool Community Health, explained: “This summer, we want everyone to have fun in the sun, but also to remind people to be sun aware and to take every precaution possible to protect their skin against sunburn and long-term skin damage.
“Although there are some people who may be at greater risk of sun burn, ultimately too much sun exposure really can affect anyone so it’s something that everyone should be thinking about.”
She added: “Whether you’re at home or abroad, you should use shade, clothing, sunglasses and regularly apply at least Factor 15 sunscreen to help protect yourself from the risk of sunburn. Sunshine shouldn't’t be avoided completely. In fact, we all need about 15 - 20 minutes in the sun a day to get Vitamin D which helps us produce strong healthy bones, but the skin should not go pink as this means that it has been exposed to too much ultra violet. It’s important to remember that your skin does not have to be raw, peeling or blistering to be sunburnt. Even if your skin has just gone a little red in the sun, it has still been damaged by too much UV radiation, and over time this can lead to skin cancer.”
The team will be facilitating road shows at the following community venues:
• May 12, 09.00-11.30 - Kensington Health Centre
• May 20, 09.00-11.30 - Everton Health Centre
• May 22, 09.00-12.00 - Townsend Lane Health Centre
• June 4, 09.00-12.00 - Speke Health Centre
In addition, health staff at the Trust are also keen to encourage people to regularly self-examine their skin to check for any of these changes.
The most common early warning signs and symptoms of skin cancer include:
• a skin growth or sores that won't heal
• a mole that grows or changes shape
• a mole where the border or colour significantly changes
• a mole or sore that itches, bleeds, crusts or scabs.
Tina concluded: “The important thing is that if you do think you might have any of these symptoms, our advice is to visit your family doctor as soon as possible to check it out, as spotting the signs of skin cancer early really can save your life.”
LCH’s five simple tips for staying sun smart this summer include:
• Wear at least Factor 15 sunscreen or above whenever you are out in the sunshine
• Remember to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you go out in the sun, and reapply it every couple of hours
• Check that your sunscreen is still in date
• Take regular breaks from the sun, and avoid sunbathing between 11.00-15.00 when the sun is strongest
• Keep babies and young children under some shade at all times, as their skin is more sensitive to the sun.
For more information on the services at LCH, visit www.liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk.
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