Skin Cancer

What You Need To Know About Bodywork...

Sun Sense

The sun damages your bodywork by its Ultraviolet Radiation (UV). There are two types of UV radiation that reach the earth’s surface:

• UVA which causes skin cancer and skin ageing
• UVB which causes skin cancer and burning of the skin

Tanning is a sign that your skin is trying to protect itself from further damage caused by the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Skin cancer

There are two types of skin cancer.

Keep an eye on your skin for:

• A new growth or sore that does not heal within four weeks
• A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab or bleed
• Constant skin ulcers that are not explained by other causes.

2. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer but it is also the rarest. However, the number of new cases diagnosed in Ireland each year continues to rise.

Melanoma most often appears as a new or changing mole on your skin. The important changes to look for are changes in shape, size and colour of your moles:

Shape: change from a round and regular shape to ragged edges or an irregular shape.

Size: change from small (the size of the butt of a pencil) to bigger or smaller.

Colour: change from one colour to many shades of tan, brown or black, sometimes white, red or blue.

Other warning signs could be:

• Finding an unusual sore, lump, blemish or mark
• Change in the way an area of your skin looks or feels
• Your skin might become scaly or crusty or begin to ooze or bleed
• Your skin may feel itchy, tender or painful
• Redness and swelling may develop

Many skin changes will be harmless. But if you notice a new or changing mole visit your doctor without delay. Spotting it early and getting it treated as soon as possible can save your life

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THIS

• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland, and not just in women. One in seven men will get skin cancer before the age of 74.
• You can’t see or feel the UV rays that cause skin cancer. Even on cloudy days up to 85% of UV rays can reach your skin.
• Some football shirts are so thin they let almost all UV rays through.
• Tanned skin, not just sunburnt skin is damaged skin.
• After your tan or sunburn fades the damage it caused to your skin remains. This damage goes on to build up under your skin, just like rust under bodywork paint. It can come back to haunt you in later life.
• Almost all your risk of skin cancer comes from the sun and sun-beds... so cover up.

ABOUT USING SUNSCREEN:

Sunscreen is designed to be used when you can’t avoid being out in the sun. It is not meant to be used so that you can stay out in the sun for longer. No Sunscreen gives 100% protection from the harmful rays of the sun.

Sunscreen works best when:

• Enough is used on the body and used generously
• It is applied 20 minutes before going out in the sun
• It is reapplied every 2 hours and more often if swimming,sweating or towel drying
• A water resistant sunscreen is used if you are involved in water sports or sweating

CHECK FOR THE UVA SYMBOL on the sunscreen bottle

RED HOT TIP

In the summer, the weather forecast includes a UV Index. This warns you when UV levels are likely to be high.

Always check the weather forecast so that you are prepared for whatever weather comes your way and in this way you can reduce your risk of skin cancer.