Summer might be almost over but the risk from skin cancer
is always present and experts have issued warnings about the dangers of the disease and advised how to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.
Some 16,000 people are diagnosed with Melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer- every year. It also kills some 2,340 people a year, according to Cancer Research UK. Melanoma develops when skin gets too much sun and the cells become damaged and start mutating.
Because people often don’t look for the warning signs, it often spreads before it’s noticed and treated. In particular, the disease often develops on people’s feet because they very rarely check them. The NHS
warns that any open sore or cut that fails to heal or quickly returns should be checked out.
If it is caught early, Melanoma is very treatable and most people make a full recovery. The most common warning sign of the disease is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole. According to the NHS, things that increase your chances of getting melanoma include your age and having pale skin, a large number of moles and a family history of skin cancer. With that in mind, check out the eight other warning signs when it comes to skin cancer:
Mole with a mix of colours
Large mole
Mole that changes over time
Swollen mole
Bleeding mole
Itchy mole
Crusty mole
Mole in the shape of a line under a nail
For women, the most common location for melanoma in the UK is the legs. Men are more likely to get the disease in their trunk, back or torso.