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Drs John Coffin and David Acorn
Family Medical Practice
0844 477 3088

Keeping Healthy

Enjoy the Sun

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It's fun in the sun and we all feel better on a bright day.
Unfortunately too much sun can damage our skin and even cause skin cancer so there are a few precautions worth taking.
  • A "healthy" tan isn't. It ages your skin faster, so you will look wrinkly sooner and you risk skin cancer.
  • Seek the shade when the sun is at its height from 11 am to 3 pm
  • Try hard to avoid getting burnt by the sun as this can increase the cancer risk later in life. Children are especially vulnerable.
  • Cover up with a hat, sun glasses and T shirt. Tightly woven, dark fabrics are best.
  • Use generous amounts of sun screen, at least SPF 15 and one that protects against both types of harmful rays, UVA and UVB. Reapply the sun screen every 2 hours if outdoors and especially if you go swimming or are sweating a lot.

What are the warning signs of skin cancer?

If you have a mole, look out for the following 

  1. change in size or colour
  2. itching or crusting
  3. bleeding or ulcerating
  4. change in the shape
  5. irregularity of the edges, rather than the usual oval or round shaped mole
  6. irregularity of the colour of the mole, usually a mole is the same colour all over
  7. new moles

If you have any of these changes it doesn't necessarily mean there is a problem, but don't ignore it, come and see a doctor. The earlier a malignant mole is treated, the better the chance of a cure.

If you have an ulcer on the skin or a scabby area that won't heal up get that checked too, early treatment is best. 

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