TUESDAY, 10 MAY, 2016

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Enjoy the sun – but please take care

As the weather takes a turn for the better, NHS Tayside is supporting Sun Awareness Week (9-15 May) by urging people to enjoy the sun safely and make sure they protect their skin.

People all over Tayside will be spending much of their free time outside over the coming months and, as everyone enjoys the brighter sunnier days, they need to keep in mind the risks of overexposure to sunlight.

Whether you are staying at home this summer or jetting off to sunnier climes, it is important to look after your skin. The sun doesn’t need to feel hot to damage your skin and it can be just as damaging here as it is abroad.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and figures in Tayside are higher than other parts of the country with a steady increase year-on-year.

There are two main types of skin cancer – melanoma and keratinocytic cancer. Most skin cancer is curable, however more advanced melanoma and some keratinocytic cancers can spread.

There were around 170 new cases of malignant melanoma in Tayside in 2015 and around 1800 keratinocytic cancers.

The new NHS Tayside ‘Value Your NHS’ campaign is encouraging patients, carers, staff and the general public to make the best use of the services we provide to ensure we can continue to deliver person-centred, safe and effective treatment and care into the future. By taking care of their skin during sunny periods, people can significantly reduce their risk of developing skin cancer.

A survey carried out by the British Association of Dermatologists to mark Sun Awareness Week found that eight out of 10 people are failing to adequately apply sunscreen before going out in the sun. The survey also found that 70% of people fail to reapply sunscreen every two hours as recommended.

Those looking after children should also remember that young skin is delicate and very easily damaged by the sun.  All children, no matter whether they tan easily or not, should be protected from the sun.  Young people are more vulnerable to the effects of sunlight and if children get burnt, it increases the risk of skin cancer later in life.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Andrew Affleck said, “People with suspected skin cancers should be seen as soon as possible, especially suspected melanoma as this can be cured if it is treated early. However, prevention is better than cure and sensible sun protection measures are important, as well as checking your skin every six months for any changes – any new or evolving skin mark especially if it is enlarging, has an irregular border, has an asymmetrical appearance, has more than one colour or that bleeds and crusts repeatedly should be considered as a possible skin cancer and assessed by a GP and/or a dermatologist.

“The hotter the climate, the more chance of sunburn and sun tanning, both of which are harmful to the skin long term, but regular exposure in the UK also leads to damage to the skin and increases the chance of skin cancer developing, often many years later. Other risk factors include fair skin which burns easily, use of sunbeds and medicines that suppress the body’s immune system.

Most skin cancers are curable but every year in Tayside there are several deaths, mostly from melanoma, so with the summer approaching we should all be sun aware.”

There are also many myths surrounding sunbed use and sunbathing – one example being that getting a tan before going on holiday protects your skin – this is completely untrue.

One of the main causes of skin cancer is overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or sunbeds. The skin does not distinguish between sunbeds and sunlight and it has been estimated that over 100 deaths per year from melanoma in the UK are attributed to ultraviolet A sunbeds.

A tan is actually your body’s attempt to protect itself from the damaging effect of these rays so the term a “healthy-looking glow” could not be further from the truth and the only safe option to a beautiful healthy tan is to fake it.

Here are a few practical tips to keep you and your children safe in the sun and avoid sunburn:

• Seek shade when the sun is hottest – usually between 11am and 3pm.   You can create your own shade with a beach umbrella or canopy, or take advantage of natural shade under trees

• Cover up with loose-fitting clothing and wear a hat that covers the ears and neck

• Use a high-factor sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or above

• Take care not to burn.  Don’t be fooled by a cool breeze or light cloud

• If taking children in the car, make sure there is adequate ventilation and never leave them in the car unattended

• Drink plenty to avoid dehydration

• Choose sunglasses that comply with the British Standard – look on the label for BS EN 1836:1997

Notes to Editors – Value Your NHS

Value Your NHS is a campaign for NHS staff, patients and their families, carers and the general public to engage and inform around the challenges that the NHS faces over the coming years. These challenges include an increasingly ageing population with longer life expectancy, increasing numbers of people with long-term and multiple conditions, increasing costs and growing demand for services combined with continuing pressures on public finances.

NHS Tayside is committed to making the best use of public money while ensuring we continue to deliver person-centred, high quality and effective care to our patients. Value Your NHS will encourage the general public and our staff to also make the best use of these resources, to ensure we are able to continue to deliver sustainable healthcare into the future.

As part of the campaign, we are asking staff, patients and the public to tell us what the NHS means to them and their families. We are asking them to take a photo of themselves making a ‘hand heart’ and saying why they value NHS Tayside by tweeting or posting on Facebook using the hashtag #lovenhstayside.

Contact:

Louise Wilson

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740718