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Skin cancer and sun safety information
 Nobody wants to spend the entire summer indoors, and indeed some sunshine can be good for us, helping the body to create vitamin D and giving many of us a feeling of general wellbeing as we enjoy outdoors activities.
However, all too often we over-do our sun exposure, which can lead to a range of skin problems, the most serious of which include skin cancer. Sunburn (i.e. skin redness) and heavy tans are generally accepted as being harmful, and are thought to lead to skin cancer.
In fact, every 4 hours someone in the UK dies of skin cancer. That's why the British Association of Dermatologists has launched Sun Awareness, to teach people how to detect the signs of skin cancer. EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES.
Sun Awareness (including Sun Awareness Week in May) is the British Association of Dermatologists' annual campaign to raise awareness of skin cancer and to encourage people to check their skin regularly. To use the Sun Awareness brand name or to get involved, please do get in touch, or click here for more information.
new! Brits unaware of skin cancer risk. 1 in 6 don't know they can have a suspicious mole checked for free, and half unable to recognise changes to skin that could indicate cancer. Click here to see the full results of our shocking survey.
new! TV favourite Anne Robinson, and actress Daisy Bates, lend their support to the Sun Awareness campaign. Click here to read more.
This section provides information about skin cancer, sunscreens, Sun Awareness, the literature you can order from us, and more:
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| SUN AWARENESS CAMPAIGN |
Sun Awareness Week - learn more about this year's 'early detection' campaign |
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Sun Awareness press releases |
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Sun Awareness campaign supporters - read about our celebrity and sporting partners |
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Sun Awareness leaflets and posters |
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ABCD-Easy way to check your moles |
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Tell your story to the media - find out more about becoming a skin cancer case study, to help raise awareness of the disease |
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Sunbeds - our position statement, statistics and more |
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SKIN CANCER
the different types, and moles |
Malignant Melanoma |
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Basal Cell Carcinoma |
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
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Moles |
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SKIN CANCER - prevention and detection |
Sunscreen and skin cancer factsheet - everything you need to know about sunscreen, sun safety, skin types, vitamin D and much more. |
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Our top sun safety tips - our top 5 tips to preventing skin cancer from sun damage |
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Sun Awareness leaflets and posters |
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Sunbeds - our position statement, statistics and more |
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Do I need to pay to get a mole checked? |
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| SKIN CANCER PATIENTS - advice on treatments etc |
How to reduce risk of getting a second skin cancer |
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Cutaneous lymphoma - treatment with nitrogen mustard |
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What happens when you have photodynamic therapy (PDT) |
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What happens when you have a skin biopsy |
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| SKIN DISORDERS LINKED TO SKIN CANCER |
Actinic keratosis |
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Bowens disease |
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Mycosis fungoides |
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FURTHER INFORMATION
advice for medical professionals, guidelines on treatment |
Skin Cancer Working Party - learn more about the dermatological organisations involved |
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The National Library for Health's Skin Cancer National Knowledge Week runs alongside Sun Awareness Week. This is the first Skin Cancer Annual Evidence Update with a range of evidence and articles covering melanoma and non-melanoma carcinomas. Subjects include:
Sun protection and the risk of skin cancer, by Lesley Rhodes
Sun protection and vitamin D concerns, by Rona Mackie
Dermoscopy, by Jonathan Bowling
Mole scanners, by Alya Abdul-Wahab and Chris Harland
Excision margins for melanoma, by Marko Lens
Sentinel node biopsy in melanoma, by J Meirion Thomas
Chemotherapy & immunotherapy, by Mark Middleton
Radiotherapy, by Irene Peat
Basal cell carcinoma - a dermatology perspective, by Nicola Hardcastle and Graham Colver
Basal cell carcinoma - a plastic surgery perspective, by Oliver Cassell
Melanoma in immunosuppressed patients, by Fenella Wojnarowska
Non-melanoma cancer in immunosuppressed patients, by Fenella Wojnarowska
Patient information provision following diagnosis, by Rachel Duncan
Improvement in Outcomes Guidance for skin cancer, two years on, by David De Berker
Skin cancer services, a patient perspective, by Andrew Langford |
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Actinic Keratosis guidelines - BAD |
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Basal Cell Carcinoma guidelines - BAD |
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma guidelines - BAD |
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Melanoma guidlines - BAD |
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Bowen's Disease guidelines - BAD |
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Mycosis Fungoides / Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma guidelines - BAD |
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SKIN CANCER - information for transplant patients |
Skin cancer link to transplants - risks and information |
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| CONTACT |
For more information about the Sun Awareness camapign, email maria.tabou@bad.org.uk or call 0207 391 6342. |
Skin cancer:
There are two main categories of skin cancer - melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma (also known as 'malignant melanoma') is less common than non-melanoma cancers, but is the most dangerous. Non-melanoma skin cancers are mainly comprised of 'Basal Cell Carcinoma' (BCC) and 'Squamous Cell Carcinoma' (SCC). BCC is the most common and the least dangerous. Below are fact sheets about each of the different types of cancer.
Malignant Melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Top sun safety tips
You don't have to avoid the sun all year, but taking a few steps when out and about in the summer sun or when on a sunshine holiday will help to protect you from sunburn and the risk of skin cancer.
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Protect the skin with clothing, including a hat, T shirt and UV protective sunglasses
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Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm when it’s sunny
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Use a 'high protection' sunscreen of at least SPF 30 which also has high UVA protection, and make sure you apply it generously and frequently when spending time out in the sun
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Keep babies and young children out of direct sunlight
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The British Association of Dermatologists recommends that you tell your doctor about any changes to a mole – if your GP is concerned about your skin, make sure you see a Consultant Dermatologist (on the GMC register of specialists), the most expert person to diagnose a skin cancer. Your GP can refer you via the NHS.
Sunscreens should not be used as an alternative to clothing and shade, rather they offer additional protection. No sunscreen will provide 100% protection.  The British Skin Foundation Skin Cancer Appeal is raising money for vital research into skin cancer. To donate, call the BSF on 0207 391 6341.
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