DERMATOLOGISTS will examine patients free of charge next Monday for sun-related skin conditions on the occasion of European Melanoma day.
Speaking to reporters at a news conference this week, Dermatology Society president Dr Constantinos Demetriou said doctors would be examining patients for free by appointment only.
May 15 has long been established National Melanoma Day to highlight the dangers of excessive sun exposure.
The campaign’s aim is to locate pre-cancer and cancer growths early, he said.
“The aim is to prevent, sensitise and educate the public on sun protection issues,” Demetriou said.
“Exposure to the sun during childhood is a very important factor in developing skin cancer in adulthood, particularly melanoma,” he said. “Estimates suggest 50 to 80 per cent of sun damage occurs during childhood and adolescence, and that 90 per cent of skin cancers are due to the sun. Moreover, sunburns before the age of 15 drastically increase the danger of developing melanoma in adulthood.”
Demetriou said skin cancer was the most common type of cancer and accounted for half of all new cancers in Western populations. It occurs more often in people with light coloured skin who have had a high exposure to sunlight.
Demetriou said, “prevention was the best cure” for skin cancer and people should combine a number of protective measures to limit developing the deadly disease.
“First, avoid exposing yourself to the sun between 12 noon and 4pm. Second, use high protection sunscreen, which you should apply before going out into the sun, and keep reapplying it. However, sunscreen does not mean we should be encouraged to overexpose ourselves to the sun,” he said.
Demetriou added: “Gradually expose yourself to the sun, don’t expose children younger than three-years-old during peak sunshine hours, and wear a hat and suitable sunglasses that filter UVA and UVB sunrays, as well as a dry blouse on the beach.”
Skin examinations are the best weapon in the fight against skin cancer, the dermatologist said. “Diagnosis at an early stage and timely removal of tumours is the best method of dealing with them. Self-examinations are also extremely important, but a medical check-up every six to 12 months is recommended for adults with a personal skin cancer history, as well as people in high risk groups,” he said.
Risk factors include people with Dysplastic nevi, many (more than 50) ordinary moles, fair skin, a personal history of melanoma or skin cancer, family history of melanoma, weakened immune system, having suffered severe, blistering sunburns, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Often, the first sign of melanoma is a change in the size, shape, colour, or feel of an existing mole. Most melanomas have a black or blue-black area. Melanoma also may appear as a new mole. It may be black, abnormal, or “ugly looking”.
“If a mole appears inflamed or grows it may be a melanoma. We must suspect melanoma if a mole is asymmetrical, bleeding, itching, has redness around its border, changes in colour, or grows,” said Demetriou.
“If you have a question or concern about something on your skin, see your doctor,” he stressed. “Diagnosis between benign and malignant is a technique and requires a lot of experience. If in doubt, a tissue sample might be taken to uncover the exact nature of the problem.”
