www.familyhealthdiary.co.nz features a comprehensive A to Z of common health conditions and tips on how to prevent and treat them.

SKIN CANCER RISKS
Sunlight damages skin and anyone can get skin cancer. Areas most exposed (the hands, forearms, face and neck) are the most damaged and this damage can lead to skin cancer.


YOU ARE MOST AT RISK IF:

• You have fair skin that burns easily and tans poorly.
• You have already had skin cancer.
• You have many moles, large moles or unusual irregular moles.
• Someone in your family has had melanoma.
• You have a history of high sun exposure and sunburn.

SIGNS OF SUNLIGHT DAMAGE INCLUDE:
Sunburn: This greatly increases your risk of skin cancer even over a short period of time.

Sunspots: Are not a cancer but are a warning that you are at risk of skin cancer. They may appear as flattish, red scaly areas on sun-exposed skin, usually in the over-40 age group.

SKIN CANCER
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in New Zealand, with
New Zealanders at high risk of developing a skin cancer during their lifetime. Our skin cancer rates are among the highest in the world.

THERE ARE THREE MAIN TYPES OF SKIN CANCER:
Superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC): Is one of the most common and least dangerous type of skin cancer. May appear as a red patch, especially on the back, or more commonly a pale pearly coloured lump.

Squamous cell carcinoma: Tend to grow rapidly over a period of months and are usually found on parts of the body most often exposed to the sun. They may appear as a red, scaly patch or a lump below the skin that spreads under it.

Melanoma: Finding a melanoma early is important as it can then be removed when it is thinnest and least deadly. It can occur anywhere on the body including areas not exposed to the sun such as soles of feet and often appears as a change in size, shape, colour or feel to an existing mole or as a new mole with an irregular shape and will be dark (almost black) in colour.

BE SUN SMART
Protect yourself from the sun every day – even when doing daily activities such as shopping, walking, gardening or watching or playing sport and also on cloudy days as you can be sunburnt when you don’t expect it. UV radiation can’t be felt and therefore you may be getting burnt and not know it.
See your doctor for a regular skin cancer check.

5-STEP PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
Most skin cancers are preventable – the main cause of them being over-exposure to sunlight, especially sunburn.

Being Sun smart means being sensible about how and when you go outside into the sun. Remember the rule, Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap;


More detail on these five steps can be found by clicking here

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