Skin Cancer Awareness Month

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. It can be split into two main categories: non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma skin cancer.

The three main types of skin cancer are:

• squamous cell carcinoma (a type of non-melanoma cancer) – around 23% of all skin cancers

• basal cell carcinoma (a type of non-melanoma cancer) – around 75% of all skin cancers

• malignant melanoma – around 1% to 5% of all skin cancers

What are the symptoms of skin cancer?

Symptoms of skin cancer can vary depending on the type and can be harder to spot if you have black or brown skin.

However, common warning signs to look out for in all skin types include:

• lumps: these might be small, slow-growing, shiny, and pink or red

• ulcers: these are areas of skin that have broken down and don’t heal within 4 weeks for no clear reason

• red or scaly patches: patches are often red or brown, and can also be itchy, rough, dry, or scaly

• moles or freckles: a new mole, or a change in the shape, colour or size of a mole or freckle, can be a sign of melanoma

• changes under the nails or on the palms or soles: acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) is a type of melanoma that appears as skin changes on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under the nails. It’s the most common type of melanoma in people of colour

What are the main causes of skin cancer?

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or sunbeds is the most common cause of skin damage, which leads to skin cancer.

While anyone with any skin type is at risk of sun damage and skin cancer, your chance of developing the disease is increased by the following risk factors:

• having a lighter natural skin colour

• a family or personal history of skin cancer

• frequent exposure to the sun

• a history of sunburns early in life

• skin that burns, freckles, reddens easily, or becomes painful in the sun

• having blue or green eyes

• having blonde or red hair

• having certain types and a large number of moles

How is skin cancer diagnosed?

Regular mole checks can help to identify the early signs of cancer, prevent skin cancer, and even save your life.

The ABCDE guide can help you check your moles at home:

At Welbeck, we recommend having your moles professionally examined 2 to 3 times a year with comparisons to a set of baseline photographs. If you're concerned about any moles or pigmentation on your skin, you should contact your GP or private healthcare professional as soon as you can.

The screening options offered at Welbeck are:

• mole check: a dermatologist will examine your skin and use a device called a dermatoscope to look at your moles more closely. They'll identify any abnormalities and determine if a mole needs further monitoring or removal

• mole mapping: in just 10 seconds, an advanced whole body 3D imaging system captures images of the entire skin surface to map, record, and monitor pigmented lesions

If your consultant detects any skin changes or abnormalities, they'll likely perform a biopsy to remove all or part of the area of skin. The tissue sample collected will then be sent to the lab for examination to check for cancer cells so an accurate diagnosis can be made.

What can I do to prevent skin cancer?

The best way to prevent skin cancer is to use sun protection year-round and to avoid any use of sunbeds or sunlamps completely.

Here are our top tips for protecting your skin from UV rays:

• apply a 5-star rated UVA sun protection with at least an SPF 30 every day to areas exposed to the sun, such as your face, neck, arms and legs

• cover up with a hat and long sleeves when you can. Choosing a wide-brimmed hat can offer more protection for your face and neck

• wear UV-blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes

• do not use sunbeds or a sunlamp. For a tanned look, choose fake tan lotions or sprays

• drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially in warmer weather

If you have black or brown skin, your chances of developing skin cancer are lower, but it’s still important to protect your skin from UV rays and regularly check your skin for any changes.

How do I apply sunscreen effectively?

From March to October in the UK, sun damage is most likely to occur between 11am and 3pm. However, sunlight can still be strong enough to cause sunburn at other times of the day and year, and sometimes even on cloudy days, so it’s important to always wear sunscreen.

These helpful tips can help you properly apply your sunscreen and avoid skin damage:

• make sure your sunscreen is not out of date or past its shelf life once opened

• always apply your sunscreen to clean and dry skin

• apply your sunscreen at least 20 to 30 minutes before you go out into the sun to allow it to soak into your skin

• make sure you use enough product – the average-sized adult needs at least 6 to 8 teaspoons of lotion to give their whole body the labelled SPF coverage. To properly protect your face, you should use approximately 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon (two fingers' worth) of sunscreen

• don't forget to apply to easy-to-miss areas like your lips, eyelids, tops of ears, back of neck, feet, backs of hands, and scalp

• reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours when spending time in the sun, or more often when swimming or exercising outdoors

What makes coming to Welbeck a stand-out experience?

We have a world-class team of specialist dermatology consultants, comprising adult and paediatric dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and skin surgeons.

A private patient experience

Conveniently located in central London, our Dermatology centre is a calm and relaxing space with no congested waiting areas, and has been purpose-built with patients’ needs in mind.

Booking an appointment is simple

If you're concerned about any changes to moles or marks on your skin, it’s advised to talk to your GP or another healthcare professional as soon as possible. Welbeck offers easy access to appointments with our specialist consultants. Private health insurance and self-pay options are available.

Onward referrals to other specialists if required

If required, we also provide fast referrals to specialists in the building who can help with related conditions or complaints.