Checking for Skin Cancer
A General Guide
• Any mole or ulcer that does not heal.
• Any new "mole" which appears and grows.
• Any existing "mole" which changes, particularly if it develops an irregular edge and/or variations in color (black, brown, pink)
• Any "mole" which bleeds or which is persistently itchy.
Outdoor workers and skin cancer
• UV radiation should be considered an occupational hazard for people who work outdoors.
• As an employer you can
• Include sun protection advice in routine health and safety training.
• Make clothing your first line of protection. Choose clothing that offers good body coverage i.e... Covers the arms and legs as well as the body.
• Closely woven and darker colored fabrics offer more protection from UVR than pastel colors.
• Wear a broad-brimmed hat or legionnaires cap, sunglasses with an EPF 10 rating.
• Seek shade whenever possible - the level of sun protection provided by a shade structure depends on the design and material used.
• Inform workers that a tan is not healthy - it is a sign that skin has already been damaged by the sun.
• Encourage workers to keep covered up during the summer months - especially at lunch time when the sun is at its hottest. They can cover up with a long-sleeved shirt, and a hat with a brim or flap that protects the ears and neck.
• Encourage workers to take their breaks in the shade, if possible, rather than staying out in the sun.
• Consider scheduling work to minimise exposure. Site water points and rest areas in the shade.
• Encourage workers to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Encourage workers to check their skin regularly for unusual spots or moles that change size, shape or colour and to seek medical advice promptly if they find anything that causes them concern.
Why not an ordinary Cotton T/Shirt?
• Normal White T-shirt has a SPF factor of around 7
• When loosely woven T-shirts get wet, they are even less effective at blocking the sun. A wet T-shirt has a SPF factor of around five.
• Tightly Woven Fabric - The tighter the fabric, the harder it is for the sun's rays to reach you. A polo shirt for instance when its dry offers an SPF of about 9.
• Synthetic Fibers - These are good because they tend to have tighter weaves.
• Dark Fabric - Dark fabric absorbs the light better, though you will feel hotter in dark clothing.
• The Nozone Sun Protection clothing range gives you the maximum UPF50+ which offers you 98% protection against UV Rays.
| Dark skin 'does not block cancer' |
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Contrary to common perception, people with dark skin are more likely to die from skin cancer than those with fairer skin, say US researchers.
Although the disease is less common, when it does occur it is typically more aggressive and diagnosed later, which leads to more deaths.
Experts advise people of all races to protect their skin from sun damage.
Misconception
There's a perception that people with darker skin don't have to worry about skin cancer, but that's not true.
"Minorities do get skin cancer, and because of this false perception most cases aren't diagnosed until they are more advanced and difficult to treat.
It is true that the extra pigment in darker skin does afford some added protection against the sun's harmful UV rays and that darker skin is, therefore, less susceptible to sunburn.
Dark skin has increased epidermal melanin which provides a natural skin protection factor (SPF) - a measure of how long skin covered with sunscreen takes to burn compared with uncovered skin.
Very dark, black skin has a natural SPF of about 13 and filters twice as much UV radiation as white skin, for example.
Sun protection
Health experts advise people to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.
Malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, can present differently in different races.
Fairer-skinned people may notice a change in a sun-exposed mole, whilst darker-skinned people might develop the cancer on areas protected from the sun such as the soles of the feet.
There are over 70,000 new cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year in the UK, making it the most common type of cancer.
Checking your skin for unusual changes is crucial as it can mean that the disease can be spotted earlier, when it is easier to treat." |
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