A Dr Emily’s Checklist: Protecting Your Family From Skin Cancer
Dr Emily’s checklist to protect your family from skin cancer.
Don’t forget the sunscreen
The daily use of broad spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 as a minimum) is essential to protect against UVA and UVB rays which contribute to skin cancer as well as sun damage and premature ageing. Sunscreen within makeup is not enough, always use a reputable brand and remember to reapply every 2-4 hours if you are going outside. Other sun protection measures for your family include wearing sun protective clothing such as a loose T-shirt, a hat and sunglasses
Learn how to apply sunscreen properly
This is where many people make mistakes as we actually need quite a bit of sunscreen to give enough protection. 3-4 good pumps of sunscreen (about a teaspoon) would give enough coverage to the face, ears and neck. Make sure you rub in thoroughly and wait at least 15 minutes before you go into the sun to allow the skin to absorb the sunscreen. Remember to apply to all skin that may be visible to the sun
Always protect your baby from the sun
This is a difficult one as we don’t recommend regular sunscreen in babies under the age on 6 months. It is of course important to protect your baby's skin from the sun as the damage can contribute to an overall increased risk of skin cancer as they grow older as well as sunburn which will be painful and distressing. The Cancer Council recommends keeping bub out of the sun as much as possible and keep them covered top to toe if you need to go outside in peak UV hours (hat, longsleeve clothes and keeping in the shade). If bub does get sunburn apply soothing after sun gels (such as aloe vera), cool compress and see your GP if you are concerned.
What is the UV index?
There are three kinds of UV rays - A, B and C. The UV index describes the strength of the solar UV radiation, the higher the index the quicker the damage to the skin will occur. In Australia the UV index is high enough to cause sun damage no matter what time of the day you go outside, even when cool or overcast. It is not related to temperature so even when it is cool your skin can be damaged without you knowing it. During the times of peak UV exposure, between 10am and 2pm take more precautions with your sun protection.
Do self skin checks at home
Self checks are important and knowing what is normal for your skin and your families is the key to identifying any changes (and possible skin cancers). Ensure you do regular self checks in good lighting with good exposure of all of your skin. Check and and monitor for new moles, changing colour of freckles or moles, moles that grow in size, spots that become itchy, scaly or ulcerated, moles which became raised or lumpy or any thing out of the ordinary such as cuts that won’t heal. If you do notice anything abnormal then book into the team at Shade Skin Cancer Medicine for a thorough skin check.
How to detect a skin cancer
If you find a mole or a spot that looks abnormal or has changed at all then the ABCD guide is helpful (primarily used for the detection of a melanoma).
A - ASYMMETRY - look for any changes in the symmetry of a mole, if one side looks considerably different to the other then this is a sign to get the mole checked
B - BORDER - next check the borders, if the spot is irregular, has a lumpy edge or lacks definition
C - COLOUR - look for the presence of other colours (colours such as black, blue or red) or the presence of multiple colours within the same spot
D - DIAMETER - look for changes in the size of your spots or moles. If the mole is enlarging or grows quickly then get it checked out immediately
The difference between a mole and a skin cancer
Always get to know your moles and see your GP if you notice any pre-existing moles changing. Although many of us have moles, often present from childhood, the more moles you have the greater the risk of developing a melanoma. Other types of skin cancer often occur on previously normal skin.
Melanoma - the most dangerous form of skin cancer. Often occurs in a mole that changes in colour, size and shape, but can also occur in skin that isn’t exposed to the sun
Squamous Cell Carcinoma - These usually occur in older people on sun damaged skin. They often look like a thick, scaly sore which often bleeds and crusts over.
Basal Cell Carcinoma - These are the most common forms of sun cancer. They grow slowly, usually in sun exposed areas such as the face. They can appear as a lump or pearly patch and many mistake them for a sore that has not healed.
