Did you know that Skin Cancer is the most common Cancer in Ireland?
No? neither did I. I was enlightened to this fact just yesterday during an interview I heard with RTE television presenter, Dr. Mark Hamilton.
When asked as to why there is little awareness of this statistic, Dr. Hamilton reported that the success rate for treatment Skin Cancer is excellent (provided that there is early diagnosis) which might explain why it receives less attention by the population than other Cancers. However, this fact shouldn't give us room for complacency. As with any illness, prevention is better than cure and it is critical that we look after our skin to as to help reduce the risk of developing Skin Cancer.
The causes of Skin Cancer are many and varied; however, they mainly derive from exposure to the sun's harmful UV rays. As Irish people typically have very fair skin, we must go to extra lengths to ensure that we protect against Skin Cancer.
- Apply sunscreen on exposed skin daily.
- Use a minimum SPF15 daily (increase the SPF as the temperature gets higher).
- Ensure that your sunscreen is in date (throw out the bottle in the cupboard left over from last year's holiday's)
- Never, ever apply a product that accelerates tanning. Remember, a tan is actually sunburn.
- Never use sunbeds.
- If you notice any changes in your skin (lumps, bumps, sores that don't heal, moles that change colour / shape / size etc.) consult your GP.
For further information on this topic, visit www.cancer.ie.
Yours in style,
Caroline
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