Health experts warn men to ‘Cover Up’ this bank holiday weekend
It’s never too early or too late to reduce your risk of skin cancer. That’s the message from health experts this bank holiday weekend.
NHS England is urging men who spend a lot of time outdoors to ‘Cover Up, Mate’ and slap on the sun cream when exposed to UV rays.
For the last three years, skin cancer rates have been increasing and are higher than average in the South, particularly in men who work in the agricultural and construction industries, as well as gardeners and sports-players. It is one of the most common forms of cancers, which can be fatal.
The warning comes as new data suggests the danger is not confined to the height of summer, but as early as April and May. With better weather and a long weekend, people will spend more time outside, thereby putting their skin at risk by exposing themselves to the greater UV levels. It’s also a time of year when our skin would naturally have lost resistance to UV over winter.
Research tells us that skin cancer is growing at a faster rate in men than women, and that they are worse at protecting themselves from the danger of the sun. In males in the UK melanoma skin cancer is the fifth most common cancer, with around 8,100 new cases in 2015.
It’s clear, a suntan is not a sign of health, it is a sign of skin damage that does not offer protection from harmful UV rays.
Latest Public Health England statistics show that between 2007 and 2015, incidence of malignant melanoma in men rose by 47.3% in the south east. Deaths by malignant melanoma in this time also rose by 36.9% in the south east.
Dr James Thallon, NHS England South East (Kent, Surrey and Sussex) Medical Director, said: “Some people think a pre-holiday tan or sunbed tan will protect them from getting sunburn, when actually a tan offers very little protection.
“A tan is a sign of skin damage and that your body is trying to repair damage that has already happened. Too much UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds can cause changes to moles or freckles, so see your GP as soon as possible if you notice any changes.”
“We know that farmers and construction workers often just want to get on with the job and think that a pre-tan gives them resilience, but it can come back to bite. Men owe it to themselves and their families to take the risk of skin cancer seriously. It is preventable and the earlier it is caught, the easier it is to treat, so see your GP as soon as possible if any moles or freckles change size, shape, colour, itch or bleed.”
The most common sign of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole. In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than one colour. The mole may also be larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed. Look out for a mole which changes progressively in shape, size and/or colour.
James Mapstone, Deputy Regional Director for Public Health England South, said: “We all like to spend time outdoors, especially on a sunny bank holiday weekend, but statistics show that those living in the South are more likely to develop skin cancer than people living in the rest of England.
“There are many precautions people can take when outside to protect themselves from the sun, make sure you spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, taking care not to burn, cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses, take extra care with children and use at least factor 15 sunscreen.
“Be aware that sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer and sunburn doesn’t just happen on holiday – you can burn in the UK, even when it’s cloudy.”
“By taking these precautions, you can enjoy the nice weather and stay safe.”
An “ABCDE moles checklist” has been developed to help you tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma.
The checklist and other useful information can be found on the NHS Choices website at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/melanoma-skin-cancer/
ENDS
Please note that Dr Thallon from NHS England and James Mapstone from Public Health England are available for interview.
For NHS England requests please contact Esther Chandler:
01138 251675
For Public Health England please contact Gemma Fear:
Tel: 0117 968 9161/07870980413
Notes to Editors
Skin cancers facts:
- Skin cancer in men is increasing at a faster rate than it is for women.
- Men are worse at protecting themselves from the sun than women.
- Men who work outdoors are at a greater risk of skin cancer.
- Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer later in life.
- You can still get sunburn on cool days as you can’t feel ultraviolet (UV) rays.
- A tan is a sign of skin damage – not health – and offers very little protection from the sun.
- You’re at greater risk if you have fair skin, moles, freckles, red or fair hair, or light-coloured eyes.
- You’re at greater risk from April to September when UV rates are higher.
The Official NHS advice on staying safe in the sun is:
- Spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm
- Make sure you never burn
- Cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
- Take extra care with children
- Use at least factor 15 sunscreen
Background: Cover Up, Mate
The Cover Up, Mate campaign urges men who spend long periods of time outdoors to protect themselves against the sun. Farmers, builders, sportsmen and gardeners are all being targeted by NHS England South’s “Cover Up, Mate” campaign because of their prolonged exposure to the sun.
As a result the campaign is supported by a range of organisations connected to outdoor work including the Met Office, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the National Farmers Union, Mole Valley Farmers farming supply retailer, sun cream manufacturer Debs and building supplies retailer Jewson.
Last year (2017), an Imperial College study commissioned by IOSH estimated that there are 48 deaths and 241 cases of melanoma skin cancer a year in Britain caused by ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun at work. Of these, construction workers made up the highest number of deaths (44%), followed by agriculture workers (23%).
Research also indicates that men are worse at protecting themselves from the sun.
A YouGov survey, commissioned by Cancer Research UK, found that more than 50 per cent more men than women forget to protect their skin and, worryingly, 75 per cent more men than women are not worried about getting sunburnt.
Latest statistics from Cancer Research show that since the early 1990s, melanoma skin cancer incidence rates have more than doubled (128%) in the UK. Rates in males have increased by more than two-and-a-half times (175%), and rates in females have increased by almost two times (95%).
Public Health England statistics show that many local areas across the South have higher rates of malignant melanoma than the national average. Between 2007 and 2015, incidence of malignant melanoma in men rose by 47.3% in the south east. Deaths by malignant melanoma in this time also rose by 36.9% in the south east.
Cancer Research stats show that:
- A tan is a sign of skin damage – not health – and may offer only factor 3 protection.
- getting painful sunburn, just once every two years, can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer;
- you’re at higher risk of skin cancer if you have fair skin, moles or freckles, red or fair hair, or light-coloured eyes; and
- the highest risk months in the UK are April to September when UV rates are higher.
Official NHS advice on staying safe in the sun is:
- spend time in the shade if you can
- make sure you never burn
- cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses
- use at least factor 15 sunscreen.