HOT TOPIC
Men who go topless and women who wear skirts being warned it could be a deadly mistake this summer
Men and women tend to develop melanoma on different parts of their body - which part of yours is most at risk?
AS the weather gets warmer, we'll be reaching for shorts and skirts more often than not.
But your clothing choices could be a deadly mistake, Cancer Research UK has warned.
2
2
The leading charity said clothing choices in warmer weather - and how much sunscreen people use - are linked to where melanoma skin cancer develops.
Two in five melanomas in men are found on the chest, back and abdomen (torso), while more than a third in women are found on the legs.
As the weather warms up, this may be because men are more likely to go without a shirt, while women are more likely to wear shorts or skirts, the charity said.
Surface area could also be playing a role because men’s torsos are typically bigger than women’s, while women’s legs take up a larger proportion of their body surface area.
Read more on skin cancer
It comes as projections suggest melanoma skin cancer cases will rise again this year to 21,300 cases across the UK - the highest on record.
Some 87 per cent of melanoma cases - around 17,100 in the UK each year - are caused by over-exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which comes from the sun and using sunbeds.
Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, said: “As the weather gets warmer, it’s really important to look after yourself in the sun.
“Getting sunburnt just once every couple of years can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer, compared to never being burnt.
Most read in Health
“And it’s not just the hot, sunny days you need to watch out for - UV rays can be strong enough to cause skin damage between mid-March and mid-October in the UK, even when it’s cloudy or cool.
“That’s why we encourage people to take some simple steps to stay safe.
“Try to stick to the shade between 11am and 3pm when the sun is strongest, wear clothes that help cover up your skin, with a hat and sunglasses, and use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and 4 or 5 stars.
Time-lapse video of 'red mark' morphing into cancer
“The key is to apply it generously - and remember to top it up regularly, especially if you’re sweating or in water.”
Men and women get skin cancer in different places
The latest data (from 2018-2021) shows that 40 per cent of melanomas in men were diagnosed on the torso - equivalent to around 3,700 cases every year.
The second most common place is head and neck (24 per cent), arms and shoulders (20 per cent), and lower limbs, including hips (13 per cent).
In women, the most common location is the lower limbs (from the hips to the feet and including hip), equating to around 3,200 cases every year (35 per cent of all cases).
Arms and shoulders account for 27 per cent of cases, trunk 22 per cent, and head and neck (13 per cent).
Since the early 1990s, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have increased by two-and-a-half times in the UK.
Rates in females have around doubled, while they have tripled in men.
By 2040, there could be around 26,500 new cases every year, Cancer Research UK projections suggest.
The charity’s chief executive, Michelle Mitchell, said: “Improvements in skin cancer survival rates highlight the remarkable progress driven by our research.
“But the growing number of people diagnosed with melanoma is still concerning, especially when we can see that rates are rising faster in men.
“If you notice anything different on your skin like a new mole, a mole that’s changed in size, shape, or colour, or any patch of skin that looks out of the ordinary - don’t ignore it, speak to your GP.
Read More on The Sun
“We want to beat skin cancer for everyone, no matter who they are or where they’re from - early diagnosis is key and could make all the difference.”
Melanoma survival has doubled in the last 50 years, with nine in 10 adults diagnosed in England surviving the disease for 10 years or more.
Can you spot the cancerous moles from the harmless ones?
IF you've spotted a new mole or lingering mark on your skin, don't be too quick to dismiss it.
It's important to know what your skin looks like normally, to helps you notice any unusual changes.
The ABCDE rule can be followed to assess the health of a mole.
If your mole falls into the following, it’s worth getting checked:
- Asymmetrical – melanomas usually have two very different halves and are an irregular shape
- Border – melanomas usually have a notched or ragged border
- Colours – melanomas will usually be a mix of two or more colours
- Diameter – most melanomas are usually larger than 6mm in diameter
- Enlargement or elevation – a mole that changes size over time is more likely to be a melanoma
Most melanomas don’t give you symptoms like pain or itching.
Meanwhile, some non-cancerous moles or abnormal patches of skin can be itchy.
So having some of these changes on their own doesn't mean you definitely have melanoma, but you should still get it checked out.
There are two main types of skin cancer - non melanoma skin cancer and melanoma skin cancer.
Non-melanoma skin cancer includes:
- Basal cell skin cancer - this is also called basal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell skin cancer - this is also called squamous cell carcinoma
There are a few different types of melanoma too:
- Superficial spreading melanoma
- Nodular melanoma
- Lentigo maligna melanoma
Find out more about distinguishing moles here.
Topics