Skin cancer is on the increase in Warrington

SKIN cancer is on the increase in Warrington – and the borough council has launched a sun awareness campaign to help people protect their skin this summer.
They say people can enjoy the sun safely by following the basic five S’s of sun safety:
*Slip on sun protective clothing that covers your body as much as possible – this can be cotton clothing or swim suits with a high UV protection factor
*Slop on SPF 30+ UVA sunscreen with a star rating of five, at least 20 minutes before going out in the sun. Use waterproof sunscreen when going in the water and reapply after swimming or every 2 hours
*Slap on a hat that shades the face, neck and ears
*Slide on quality sun glasses
*Shade from the sun whenever possible, especially between 11am and 3pm
Incidences of skin cancer are increasing in Warrington and medical experts say that over exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun is the main cause.
If you have fair hair and fair skin, or a lot of freckles and moles, a history of skin cancer, or you have been sunburnt many times in the past, you should take extra care when going out in the sun, as your skin is more at risk of being damaged.
Take special care too with children, and keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight, especially at midday.
Checking your skin regularly is a good way to spot any unusual changes that might be a sign of skin cancer. Look out for moles or patches of skin that are growing, changing shape, developing new colours, bleeding, or itchy. Take photos and keep a track of any changes.
If you spot any of these signs, or any unusual or persistent changes to your skin, see your doctor – 90 per cent of adults diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, can survive their disease for more than ten years.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, the council’s lead member for Public Health and Wellbeing said: “We are all at risk of sun damage, so it’s essential that we take the necessary steps to protect ourselves. Being sun smart doesn’t mean staying out of the sun altogether, as it is an important source of vitamin D, but if you follow the recommended 5-step procedure, you can enjoy the sun without putting yourself at risk of damaging your skin.”