Risks from the Sun
Skin cancer is a disease many of find confusing and frightening in equal measures. The major factor is sun exposure, but can something as once so acceptable as sunbathing be linked to something so deadly? We feel cheated; most of us love to lie in the sun – what else do we do on holiday?
The fact is that the link between the sun and skin cancer is undeniable, so we have to change our habits, for good. This means, at basic level, not laying in the sun between 12pm and 3pm and using a broad spectrum SPC30+ sunscreen even in cloudy weather.
The next vital step is awareness and here we mean checking your moles; especially if you have previously been a sun worshiper!
Malignant Melanoma
Every year, around 6,000 people are diagnosed with malignant melanomas with around 1,500 people a year dying from this disease; a 15% increase in the last 6 years. Most at risk are people in their 40’s, those who have suffered over-exposure to the sun 20 to 30 years ago, when the dangers of sunbathing were unheard of.
The first sign of the disease is a changing mole, but caught early the better the outcome. There are many ways to check to ensure peace of mind and prevention of surgery, however we look at three:
The ABCDE Method
There are definite signs that a mole is suspicious and should be seen by a doctor. This a simple guide to refer to when regularly checking your skin:
A- Asymmetry: Normal moles or freckles are completely symmetrical
B- Border: Report a mole or spot with blurry and/or jagged edges.
C- Color: Normal spots are usually one color. Watch out if you mole lightens or darkens
D- Diameter: Get it checked out if is it bigger that ¼” or 6mm
E- Elevation: Means the mole is raised above the surface and has an uneven surface
The Ugly Duckling Test
Using diagrams available on the website of the Skin Cancer Foundation (skincancer.org/early-detection), you can check yourself for weird moles - dubbed "ugly ducklings" because they don't look like other moles.
Sometimes, amid a scattered group of moles, one "ugly duckling" stands out as being darker and larger than its neighbors. Sometimes, in a group of moles, one mole, often a small one, stands out because it lacks pigmentation. Sometimes, one mole is all by itself in a large area of skin such as the back; it's a potential problem if this mole is changing, asymmetrical or otherwise atypical.
Mole Scanning with Mole Mate™
Unfortunately, some changes can be so subtle that even experts can fail to detect cancerous changes visually. Unless a skin biopsy is ordered, the cancer may be missed until its presence is obvious. Then it could be too late. Mole Mate™ is capable of picking up 94% of malignancies in moles and changes that could turn cancerous.
Mole Mate ™ makes it very easy for dermatologists, plastic surgeons and even GPs to survey what is going on below the skin's surface. It uses infra-red light to penetrate the skin, looking for changes that would normally be found only with a biopsy - when part of a suspicious mole is removed for examination.
"Mole Mate ™ thoroughly analyses the composition of the skin, allowing doctors to see if there is anything unusual in the distribution of elements such as collagen and melanin below the skin's surface,' says Nina Sheffield, Clinical Director at Royal Tunbridge Wells Skin & Laser Clinic. "We have successful detected approx 30 cases of Malignant Melanomas in this clinic, effectively saving those lives."
Mole Mate ™ can detect all five elements of your skin. The accuracy of the scan ensures only the necessary surgery takes place. You can be confident of the diagnosis the doctor is making.
Mole Mate ™ Case Study
John Andrews experienced Mole Mate ™ at the Royal Tunbridge Wells Skin & Laser Clinic, mainly because he lived in Australia for ten years'. 'I returned to the UK last year and I have been concerned about my skin and the amount of time I have spent in the sun. I've got lots of moles and I've noticed they've been changing and have even been growing in the past few years,' he says.
“The scan itself was thankfully completely painless. Dr Nina Sheffield wiped the area around each mole with an antiseptic wipe before starting scanning. Then she placed a handset the shape of a hair dryer over the mole and held it there for six seconds. During that time, images from beneath my skin were transferred to a computer screen for her to analyse. Then she saved the images from each scan in the computer for future reference.”
John goes onto say “Dr Sheffield was able to tell me while scanning that all of my moles were OK. The fact that I got such an instant result was amazing and the peace of mind is priceless."
Unfortunately, many people leave it until it is too late before going to a doctor. But even if a patient sees a skin specialist at an early stage, there is a 20% chance that the cancer will be missed.
For further information on mole scanning and Mole Mate™ visit www.skinlc.co.uk or call 01892 22 22 22 for a free consultationLabels: Mole Mate, mole scanning, moles, Skin cancer
