Skin Cancer and Sun Safety

Bid on Skin Cancer and Sun Safety in Authors for Japan auction

Author: racheln

Writer and author, Keris Stainton, has launched the fundraising initiative, Authors for Japan, to help raise money for those affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

A wide range of authors have offered items and there are hundreds of lots to bid on, including two copies of Skin Cancer and Sun Safety: The Essential Guide (and another of my books).

There are full instructions on the site, but you basically just need to place a bid in the comments section of the item you’re interested in; the auction closes at 8pm on Sunday 20 March. Winning bids are sent direct to the British Red Cross appeal.

Tags: authors for japan, skin cancer and sun safety
March 15th, 2011  |  Posted in Book News  |  Comments Off

Half of Brits got sunburnt this year

Author: racheln

Despite all the sun safety messages, half of Brits have got sunburnt this summer and many of them claim to be willing to do it again in order to get a tan, according to the results of a survey from Cancer Research UK and Superdrug.

The survey found that the most common place for sunburn during 2010 was on the face (40%), followed by the arms (39%), shoulders (37%) and neck (36%).

With sunburn being a major sign that the skin has been harmed, and it being known to increase the risk of skin cancer, getting sunburnt is a bit daft. So many sun protection products are on the market and it doesn’t take long to apply them to your skin.

Source: BBC

Tags: statistics, sunburn
September 1st, 2010  |  Posted in In The News  |  Comments Off

Skin cancer and sun safety news round-up

Author: racheln

Skin cancer and sun safety issues have been in the news a lot recently. Here’s a round-up of some stories that may be of interest.

* BBC News reports that experts are warning against using High Street mole clinics, with concerns that some of the people analysing moles may not be as highly trained as a GP or dermatologist.

* The Daily Mail featured Dr Mike Brown, a senior advisor for Boots Sunscare, answering burning questions about suncream.

* WalesOnline report on a charity petition calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to give free suncream to all children in Wales under 11 years old, to help prevent skin cancer.

* Cancer Research UK had news on a worrying Teenage Cancer Trust report that suggests that some teens are getting sunburnt on purpose in order to get a tan.

* Female First report on a survey that found that parents may lack proper awareness about skin cancer and sun safety and may inadvertenly be putting children’s skin at risk.

* Also in the Daily Mail was the tragic story, Killed by Sunbed, about a mother of eight who died aged 31, just six months after being diagnosed with skin cancer.

Tags: mole, news, skin cancer, Sun Safety, sunbed, Sunscreen
July 15th, 2010  |  Posted in New Research, Skin Check, Sun Safety, Sunbeds, Sunscreen  |  Comments Off

School bans sunscreen

Author: racheln

How would you feel if your child’s school banned the use of sunscreen?

In the midst of the British summer, when we’ve been having some of the hottest weather and need to be wearing sunscreen to protect our skin, that’s exactly what has happened at one school in South Wales. The acting head has declared that children should have sunscreen applied before they go to school in the morning, but aren’t allowed to take it in with them to reapply at lunchtime. Instead, they have to rely on wearing a hat and staying in the shade.

Although hats are certainly a good way of protecting children from the sun, they don’t cover their arms or legs and, if children are out playing and moving around during their lunch break, they’re likely to veer out of the shade and into the sun. I can understand that teachers may not want to get lumbered with helping to apply sunscreen for every child, but surely older children could manage to put their own sunscreen on?

The Daily Mail reports that the school is, ‘reconsidering its policy.’

Source: Daily Mail

Tags: children, school, sun cream, sunscreen ban
June 29th, 2010  |  Posted in Sun Safety, Sunscreen  |  Comments Off

Free skin sun damage check in Southampton

Author: racheln

If you’re located near Southampton, are aged 45 or over and want to take advantage of a free skin sun damage check, then head to the West Quay shopping centre on Monday 21st or Tuesday 22nd June.

As part of Skin Awareness Week, the Skin Check pod will be located on the lower level of the Southampton shopping centre between 10am and 4pm on both days. Amongst the experts on hand to help check your skin will be Dr Dawn Harper and Dr Pixie McKenna, from Channel 4′s Embarrassing Bodies series.

The event is primarily aimed at those over 45 who may have a history of over exposure to the sun, or repeated incidents of sunburn, as both of these can be risk factors for skin cancer. Spotting potential skin changes early on is crucial in the battle against skin cancer, so it’s well worth getting your skin checked if you could be at risk.

Tags: Skin Awareness Week, Skin Check, sun damage
June 18th, 2010  |  Posted in Skin Check  |  Comments Off

Environmental Working Group safe sunscreen test

Author: racheln

With so many sunscreens on the market, it’s hard to know which to choose. Although US-based and not 100% applicable to the UK market in all areas, you may be interested to have a look at the Environmental Working Group’s analysis of sunscreens.

The non-profit research group carries out an annual review of the sunscreens on the market, examining the contents of them and whether they really do what they claim to do.

Over 400 sunscreens were included in their tests, which form part of their 2010 Cosmetics Safety Database, yet only 39 were eventually recommended by them as good sunscreens to use when on the beach or playing sport.

They’ve sorted their findings into ‘top sunscreen’s - all of which contain the minerals zinc or titanium and don’t contain harmful chemicals – and ‘non-mineral options’, for people who don’t want to use products with minerals in, yet don’t mind the odd chemical. You can view both lists of sunscreen products here.  

For links and reviews to some of the individual sunscreens recommended by EWG, then check out this post by author Jenna Glatzer.

Tags: Environmental Working Group, Sunscreen
June 15th, 2010  |  Posted in Sunscreen  |  Comments Off

Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Author: racheln

If you’re heading out to enjoy the sun, then don’t forget to apply sunscreen.

Ideally, aim to apply sunscreen before you got outside – first thing in the morning is a good habit to get into – or 15 to 30 minutes before you go out.

If you’re just going to be out walking or shopping, and will only have your arms, face and neck exposed to the sun, then allow about two teaspoonfuls of sunscreen. To cover your whole body, allow about two tablespoonfuls of sunscreen.

Don’t forget to reapply it later in the day, or more frequently if you’re on a beach and have been in and out of water.

Tags: Sunscreen
June 5th, 2010  |  Posted in Sun Safety, Sunscreen  |  Comments Off

Skin Cancer and Sun Safety: The Essential Guide

Author: racheln

The 1st June 2010 sees the publication of Skin Cancer and Sun Safety: The Essential Guide (Need2Know Books, £8.99).

Tags: book, Need2Know, publication
June 1st, 2010  |  Posted in Book News  |  Comments Off

Number of men dying from skin cancer doubles

Author: racheln

New figures released by Cancer Research UK show that the number of men dying from malignant melanoma skin cancer have doubled in the last 30 years.

Back in the late 1970s, less than 400 men a year died from malignant melanoma, but now the rates have risen and over 1,100 men are dying from the disease each year. The death rates in men over 65 years of age have risen particularly, going from 4.5 per 100,000 to 15.2 per 100,000.

Many of these deaths and instances of skin cancer could be prevented if men paid more attention to sun safety issues.

Caroline Cerny, manager of Cancer Research UK’s SunSmart, says, “To curb this huge rise in deaths from malignant melanoma it’s more important than ever that people are aware of the dangers of too much sun. Too often men leave it up to their partners or mothers to remind them to use sunscreen, cover up with a shirt and hat and even visit the doctor about a worrying mole.”

Tags: deaths from skin cancer, malignant melanoma, men, skin cancer
May 31st, 2010  |  Posted in New Research  |  Comments Off