Skin Cancer 7 Deaths a Day | London Mole Removal

Sensible Sun Reminder

With the recent warm spell in the UK many Brits have seen their pale skin turn pink in the welcome sun, but experts are warning that sensible sun practices need to be maintained as a priority.

The British Skin Foundation website gives some stark statistics on skin cancer in the UK:

Over 2,500 deaths a year
At least over 100,000 new diagnoses every year
On average, someone who dies from skin cancer typically loses 20 years of their life

Sun Exposure Advice

UV exposure is the main cause of skin cancer and it is preventable with good sun safety practices.

Sunscreen
Use a minimum SPF30 – more for infants/elderly/sensitive skin
Choose a product with a 4-5 star UVA rating
Apply 20-30 minutes before going outside
Reapply every couple of hours
Do wear sunscreen even on cloudy days as the UV can still be damaging
Avoiding peak sun
The sun is at its highest around midday
Stay indoors or in the shade between 11-3pm to avoid the strongest rays
Cover up
The right choice of attire can be very helpful in protecting against the skin
Wear a broad brimmed hat and sunglasses
Protect arms with long sleeved overshirt and wear loose trousers to cover the legs
Don’t forget your feet – socks/shoes are going to give more protection than flip flops

Mole Checking

Many melanoma relate to past damage, so while it is essential to protect the skin from sun exposure, this won’t give any cover for previous damage – so we also need to be vigilant for melanoma which could have been triggered years ago.

Dr Ross Perry advises patients to look for the ‘ugly duckling’ sign – a mole that looks or behaves differently to normal and gives arise to suspicion or concern.

“At the end of the day, if the mole looks suspicious or you just have a ‘hunch’ that it’s wrong, then get it checked to be on the safe side.”

Mole Check – What to Look For

The ABCDE rule outlines the most suspicious signs of changing or different moles:

Asymmetry
Border is uneven
Colour is patchy or unusual
Diameter unusually large size
Evolving any change including appearance (size/shape/colour) or behaviour (itchiness/discharge/bleeding)

Private Mole Checks & Removal

If in doubt about any skin lesions, it is important to get them checked as early as possible.

The London Mole Removal Centre is a private company, offering mole checks and treatment for unwanted moles and other skin lesions (cysts, skin tags, warts, verruca, lipoma etc) at 5 mole removal clinics.

All consultations and treatments are carried out in person by doctors who are specially trained in the latest laser and skin surgery techniques and are highly experienced in the field.

Further advantages of private treatment at the London Mole Removal Centre include: