This morning it was announced that the UK's leading model agencies have backed a "no sunbed" policy. Next, Storm, Elite, Premier Model Management, Oxygen and Union have all committed themselves to zero tolerance of sunbed use by their models.
This is all part of Cancer Research UK's R UV Ugly? campaign which is raising awareness of the dangers of sunbeds.
The news ties in with the start of London Fashion Week, meaning maximum exposure for the campaign.
Cancer Research UK has been working tirelessly to make people aware of the dangers of tanning and successfully campaigned for the law to be changed, it is now illegal for anyone under eighteen to use a sunbed in the UK.
Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK. The number of people suffering from skin cancer is increasing. This could be because being tanned is seen as being beautiful and not having much sun in the UK has seen people running for the sunbeds.
What is skin cancer?
There are two main types of skin cancer:
* Malignant melanoma - the most serious type. Usually develops in the outer layer of your skin. Visible signs of melanoma incluse moles changing the way they look or feel. Malignant melanoma is one of the fastest rising cancers in the UK and have risen by more then four times since the 1970's. worryingly, we see more melanoma deaths then Australia, although they have more cases of the disease. Melanome is a cancer that affects young adults. It is the second most common cancer seen in people aged between fifteen and thirty four. However, your risk of developing the disease increasing as you get older. Melanoma is more common in women then in men. Most commonly found on a woman's leg or a man's torso.
* Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is more common then melanoma and easier to treat. It is commonly found on areas of the body exposed to the sun frequently (head, neck, arms and hands) There are two types of NMSC and they both tend to affect older people.
BASAL CELL CANCER is more common. Slow to grow and usually begins as a small flattended lump. It can be red, pale or pearly and sometimes scaly, almost like eczema.
SQUAMOUS CALL CANCER is more serious and can spread if left untreated. It appears as persistant scaly spots, lumps or ulcers which bleed easily and are red in appearance.
Early Diagnosis Saves Lives
Being consious of your skin and noticing any changes is key to diagnosing skin cancer and saving lives. Make sure you know where your moles are and monitor them regularly. If any changes in size, shape or colour occur then get to your GP as quickly as possible. Skin cancer is much easier to treat in it's early stages.
Risk Factors
Some people have a higher risk of developing skin cancer then others. These people will have one or more of the following factors:
* Fair skin that burns easily
* Lots of moles and/or freckles
* Frequent sunburn
* Red or fair hair
* Light coloured eyes
* A family history of skin cancer
* Personal history of skin cancer
How Can I Try To Prevent Skin Cancer?
There are things you can do to try and protect your skin. Wearing SP15+ suncream, covering up as best you can and finding shade during peak sun hours (12-4) all help look after your skin and protect it from harmful UV rays. Avoiding sunbeds is obviously a huge factor, you are 75% more likely to develop cancer if you use sunbeds even once before you turn thirty five. If you really do need a tan then I really do encourage you to use a fake tan spray rather then running to the sunbed; your skin and your health will thank you for it.
Hopefully there are some facts here that you have found informative. My aim is not to scare you or judge you, but to make you aware of the damage UV rays do to your skin. It is up to you what you do with this information :)
For more information on Cancer Research UK's R UV UGLY? Campaign or for skin cancer information in general please visit their website (www.cancerresearchuk.org)
If you are worried about a mole or your skin, please do visit your GP as soon as you can.
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