While there's nothing like a dose of sunshine to boost our vitamin D levels, we all know too much sun can be harmful.
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With temperatures set to reach 36C next week, the Met Office has issued a 'risk to life' warning, with Cancer Research releasing a statement reminding us to be safe in the sun to avoid skin cancer. "This weekend remember to spend some time in the shade, cover up with clothing and regularly apply sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and 4 or 5 stars," says chief executive of Cancer Research, Michelle Mitchell.
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Sadly there's no such thing as a safe tan, unless it comes from a bottle, and time spent in the sun can increase your chances of skin cancer. Read on for five shocking facts about skin cancer that you need to know ahead of the heatwave.
1. You can get melanoma in your eyes
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EMBED END Instagram We all know how essential sunglasses are (nobody wants to be squinting all day), and you probably know they’re actually just as important in the sun-protection stakes as the outfit-completing stakes. But this goes beyond vision damage – sun damage can also cause cancer of the eye area, and even the eye itself too. "Melanoma of the eye (intra-ocular melanoma) is the commonest type of eye cancer, that affects middle-aged men more than women," says leading aesthetic and reconstructive oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Sabrina Shah-Desai.
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"It's more common in fair-skinned individuals with blue or green eyes, and individuals with abnormal brown spots affecting the pigmented layer of the eye. Many people with eye melanoma don’t have symptoms unless the cancer grows and causes blurry vision or sudden loss of vision, or the optician picks up a changing dark spot on the pigmented layer of the eyeball during a routine eye exam. Treatment of a small growth can include radiation therapy, while a larger tumour may require surgery to remove the eye."
2. Skin damage in childhood plays a big part in your cancer risk
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We're generally way more savvy about protecting children's skin from sun damage now than even just a couple of decades ago – and the importance of doing so really shouldn't be underestimated, as experts believe getting sunburnt during early years can be a key factor in developing skin cancer later on.
"Suffering with one or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma, which can potentially be fatal," says Dr. Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson. "It's important for individuals of all ages to practice safe and healthy sun behaviours to limit the risk of skin cancer."
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3. UK rates are on the rise – especially in young people
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Ha – British summers, eh? We may be famed for our dismal weather but, let's be honest, many of us have still managed to get sunburned in our own back gardens or sunbathing in the park.
Australia gets way more sunshine than we do, but successful awareness campaigns mean skin cancer rates Down Under are now steadily falling. But in the UK, they're rising – at pretty alarming rates, with figures doubling over recent decades. According to Cancer Research UK, melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is now among the most common cancers to affect 15-34-year-olds.
4. Skin cancer causes thousands of UK deaths
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EMBED END Instagram Skin cancer's now so common that many of us know somebody who's had a dodgy mole, or cancerous patch of skin removed. The majority of skin cancers diagnosed in the UK are non-melanoma types, like basal cell carcinoma, which accounts for around 75% of cases (Hugh Jackman revealed he was being treated for basal cell carcinoma yet again early this year), and squamous cell carcinoma, which accounts for 20%. These often present as a scaly patch, a sore or ulcer that won't heal, or small lumps with a shiny pink or white, or crusty, surface. Generally they're very easy to treat and not deadly – so it's easy to forget skin cancer can be a very serious disease too.
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Malignant melanoma can spread to other organs, so early diagnosis is vital. And each year in the UK around 15,000 people are diagnosed with malignant melanoma, and around 2,000 die from it.
5. People with naturally dark skin are not immune from sun damage
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We often talk of people with fair skin, blue eyes and light hair being more at risk of skin cancer. Generally, this is true – but nobody should assume the importance of slapping on SPF while out in the sun doesn't apply to them. "Skin of colour is sensitive to damage caused by UV and requires protection," Dr Mahto says. "Those with olive or pigmented skin often think they don't need sunscreen, and this is simply not the case. It is still possible for people of colour to get skin cancer and the same precautions should be taken as with lighter skin."
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