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Your skin is for life, not just for summer

6 August 2003

The English are so delighted to be experiencing Mediterranean temperatures that many are ignoring all the sensible precautions to avoid sunburn that they would usually take when going on a sunny holiday abroad.

Dr Kapila Batta, a consultant dermatologist for Bupa Hospitals, experiences her busiest season as a result of sun related skin damage. She explains: “People tend to be more aware of their skin in the summer months and so irregularities are noticed more.”

Many people underestimate the strength of the sun at home, both on an everyday basis and during a heatwave. Skin cancer is not top of mind, yet each year in the UK about 65,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer and around 6,000 are diagnosed with malignant melanoma.* While these statistics don’t quite rival Australia’s yet, they prove that skin cancer is a risk that does need to be taken more seriously even in our usually more temperate climate.

Most people know that excessive sun exposure is bad for the skin, but the old adage ‘mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun’ still rings true. Dr Batta explains why it pays to be sun aware even in England: “People tell themselves that this kind of hot weather happens all too infrequently and that they should make the most of it. The benefits of getting out and about in the sun are many but too often people ignore the dangers of over-exposure in the sun.”

"The short-term damaging effects of the sun are sunburn and tanning. In the long-term it causes skin ageing and increases the risk of skin cancer. Sunburn is the most immediate sign that you’ve overdone it, with redness and irritation that fades over 2-3 days to leave the pigmentation we call a tan. Severe sunburn may cause pain and blistering. However, incidents of sunburn and long-term exposure to the sun’s strong ultra-violet light are also the main risk factors for any type of skin cancer."

Dr Batta continues: "The simplest and most effective way to reduce your skin cancer risk is to cover up. The Australian phrase ‘slip, slop, slap’ is a good mantra: slip on a T-shirt, slop on some sun cream and slap on a hat."

There are two main types of skin cancer: non-melanoma and melanoma. Non-melanoma skin cancers are the most common and easily treated type of skin cancer and are caused by long-term exposure of the skin to sunlight. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer as it can spread to other tissues and organs. There is evidence that acute episodes of sunburn from holidays abroad or during childhood increase the likelihood of melanoma later in life. Both types may resemble moles on the skin but there are subtle differences to watch out for, including irregular shape, variation of colour, size and elevation. Although these signs do not necessarily indicate skin cancer you should visit your doctor to have any concerns assessed as soon as possible.

So who is most at risk of skin cancer? Dr Batta says: “Skin cancer is more common in people with fair skin that tends to burn easily. Melanoma risk is also increased in patients with lots of moles and those with a family history of melanoma. Chronic exposure of the skin to sunlight results in non-melanoma skin cancer while episodes of sunburn, particularly in childhood, has been associated with melanoma. Therefore sun protection is important from infancy and throughout adult life.”

Dr Batta continues: “Small children should always be covered up in the sun as sun damage to their delicate skin can make them more prone to skin cancer later in life. Sun worshippers should consider exactly how much a tan is worth to them, always use a high SPF and avoid the hottest hours. Everyone has their weak spots, for men this is most often their backs or the top of their heads if they are bald, for women it is often the lower legs that are most at risk.”

Dr Batta’s advice to reduce risk of skin cancer includes:

• Make sure you never burn in the sun.
• Avoid the sun during the hottest part of the day, between 11am and 3pm. Find shade under umbrellas, trees or other shelters.
• Always cover up, sunscreen alone is not enough. Wear T-shirts, wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses.
• Young skin is particularly at risk - sunburn for under 15 year old is a major risk for skin cancer.
• Babies should be kept out of the sun completely, while older children should be protected with both sunscreen and clothing.

So, while enjoying England’s new Mediterranean climate, try adapting some of our European neighbours sun habits as well: cover up, seek shade and keep out of the sun during the hottest period of the day.

* Source: Cancer Research UK May 2003

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