What You Need To Know About Skin Cancer

Here’s the expert advice on how to spot which of your moles are normal and which ones need checking out

- Tanya Pearey

As the sun starts to shine and we spend more time outside, it’s important to make sure we stay safe. Skin cancer is the fastest-growing cancer in the UK, with over 40 people diagnosed every day. ‘However, it’s also one of the most preventable cancers,’ says Dr Adam Friedmann, consultant dermatologist at Stratum Dermatology Clinics, ‘so learning to protect your skin could save your life.’

Stay in the shade when the sun is at its hottest, cover up with clothing and use sunscreen. ‘The price and brand of your sunscreen doesn’t matter, so long as it has an SPF of at least 15 and a UVA rating of four or five stars,’ says Dr Rachel Orritt, health information manager at Cancer Research UK.

Sun damage causes changes to the DNA of our skin cells, and reduces the efficiency of our immune cells to detect and fight sun damage. ‘When we get sunburnt, UVA and B can cause changes in DNA, causing specific DNA mutations, increasing the risk of cancer,’ explains Dr Friedmann.

Prolonged sun exposure also leads to premature ageing because it breaks down collagen, the underlying elastic support tissue that gives skin its strength, smoothness and elasticity.

Is there such a thing as a safe suntan?

No, warns Dr Orritt.

‘Tanning is a sign of your skin trying to protect itself from harmful UV rays. So any tanning is a sign that UV rays have reached your skin.