Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, but treatable if detected early. Self check-ups play their part. Here’s what to keep an eye on – and how to protect kids too.
Check for changes in your skin
Look for anything new, changing, or unusual:
- A new growth that’s pearly, transparent, brown, black, or multi-coloured
- A mole, birthmark or brown spot which has changed in size, shape or colour. See ‘New or changing moles’ below for more details
- A spot that continues to itch, hurt, scab or bleed
- An open sore that doesn’t heal within three weeks
- A mole that looks different from the rest
New or changing moles
With moles, follow the ‘ABCDE’ rules:
Asymmetry – the two halves of a mole may differ in shape
Border – the edges may be irregular or blurred, and sometimes show notches
Colour – it may be uneven. Different shades of brown, black or pink may be visible
Diameter – most skin cancer melanomas are at least 6mm in diameter. Report any changes to your doctor
Expert – if in doubt, get it checked. Your GP can help or book directly with our dermatology doctors in Kensington who have 20 years’ experience in diagnosing skin cancer. Contact us here.
How to do a self-exam
Grab a hand-held mirror, stand in front of a full-length mirror, and check the following:
- Nose, lips, mouth, and the front and back of the ears
- Part hair into sections and use the hand-held mirror to reflect into the full-length mirror
- Palms and backs, between fingers and under fingernails. Continue up the wrists, and examine the front and back of forearms
- Standing in front of the full-length mirror, begin at the elbows and scan all sides of the upper arms, including underneath
- Focus on the neck, chest and torso. Lift breasts to check underneath
- Upper back. With your back to the full-length mirror, use the hand-held mirror to inspect the back of the neck, shoulders, upper back, and the back of your upper arms not visible in step 4
- Lower back. Still using both mirrors, scan the lower back, bum and backs of both legs
- Sit down, then prop each leg in turn on a stool or chair. Use the hand-held mirror to examine the genitals. Check the front and sides of both legs, thigh to shin. The finish with ankles and feet, including the soles, toes and nails (without nail polish)
Dermatologists recommend you do this once a month. If you’ve never checked your skin before, so are unsure of what’s new or changed, book an examination with a dermatologist. In any case, the Skin Cancer Foundation advises doing a skin check annually.
To protect your skin
It is best to find shade, wear a wide-brimmed hat and slap on the Factor 50 when you’re out in summer. The gold standard is to re-apply every two hours. We like to throw the SPF in our handbag/kids’ bag and top it up every time we visit the bathroom. This will protect against skin cancer, and premature ageing.
Protect Children’s Skin
We’re often better at applying sunscreen to kids than ourselves. It is important to use factor 50 and teach kids the importance of sun protection from a young age.
You can teach shade-seeking, sun-protective clothing and sunscreen habits from infancy, and the importance of self-exams when children start dressing themselves. Tanning beds are shown to significantly increase skin cancer risk so it is important to advise children to avoid tanning salons during the teenage years.
The risk of developing skin cancer as a minor is slim, but the UV damage you get during the childhood years is a significant risk factor for the disease to develop during adulthood. Keep kids’ skin healthy by teaching them good sun protection measures from an early age.
If you have concerns over a changing or new mole, book with your GP or with us right away so it can be checked quickly.
Download this advice as a pdf so you can spread the word.
Good skin days, always.
No. 23 Skin, 23 Ansdell St, W8 5BN, 02039411815
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