Protect darker coloured
skin too If you have a high risk of burning and developing skin cancer it’s safe to say that protecting your skin should be a priority whenever you’re out and about in the sunshine. It’s also true that if you have naturally dark brown or black skin you won’t burn as easily and you’ll have a lower risk of skin cancer. That’s because your skin has some in-built protection against the sun’s harmful rays. But having darker skin doesn’t mean
you’re completely immune to developing skin cancer. You can still get sunburned if you have darker skin, and the signs are less obvious: instead of going red or pink in the sun, your skin may feel irritated, tender or itchy when sunburned (it doesn’t have to peel). According to the BAD if you have
black or Asian skin you don’t need a sunscreen to stop skin cancer to the same extent as a fair-skinned person – but sunscreen is still necessary during intense or prolonged sun exposure. >
Know your risk Skin colour/type
Sunburn Moles
Not everyone has the same risk of developing skin cancer – here are the most common risk factors the British Association of Dermatologists says you should be aware of:
If you have pale skin and are prone to burning you’re at risk of developing melanoma and non- melanoma (the most common type of skin cancer). People with this risk factor often have light or red hair and freckles.
You have a risk of melanoma and non-melanoma if you’ve had past cases of severe sunburn especially with blisters (particularly in childhood).
If you have many ordinary moles (more than 50) you’re at risk of developing melanoma. You’re also at risk if you have many unusual moles, which tend to be larger than ordinary moles with irregular shapes or colour patterns.
Family history Previous skin cancer Immune system
Your risk of melanoma is higher than average if you have a close family member who has had a melanoma.
If you’ve already had a skin cancer you’re at risk of developing melanoma and non-melanoma.
People with a suppressed immune system are also at risk of developing melanoma and non- melanoma (for instance those taking medication after an organ transplant or those taking medicines for leukaemia or a lymphoma).
Lifestyle Sun beds Sunbathing Age
If you work outdoors or you have outdoor hobbies you may have had a lot of overall exposure to the sun, which means your non-melanoma risk may be higher than average.
Using sun beds increases your risk of both melanoma and non-melanoma.
If you sunbathe regularly or have done in the past, your risk of both types of skin cancer is higher.
The risk of developing any type of skin cancer increases with age. But it’s still possible to get skin cancer when you’re relatively young (though it’s uncommon in children).
All About health 9
According to the NHS a day at the beach without proper eye protection can cause a temporary but painful burn to the surface of your eyes, similar to sunburn
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