Skin Cancer Infographic For Awareness Month

17 May 2021 | Category: Medical
Share:

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and this year the campaign organisers have issued an infographic as a visual summary of the issues surrounding this common yet potentially preventable disease.

Skin Cancer Awareness Month is organised by the American Skin Cancer Foundation. The event is intended to raise awareness of how to prevent, detect and treat skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Prevention Infographic

Facts about skin cancer

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s facts emphasise that skin cancer is highly prevalent and potentially dangerous:

  • Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. and worldwide
  • 1 in 5 Americans will develop it by the age of 70
  • It is potentially fatal, accounting for more than 2 deaths an hour

The 2 main causes of skin cancer are avoidable – UV rays from the sun and UV tanning beds.

  • Your risk for melanoma doubles if you’ve had more than 5 sunburns
  • Regular daily use of SPF 15 or higher sunscreen reduces your risk of melanoma by 50%

Treatment outcomes are excellent when the cancer is caught early, which is why early detection is key.

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is caused by growth of abnormal skin cells. DNA damage harms skin cells and allows them to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours. The main types of skin cancer are:

  • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) – A flat red patch of skin that bleeds or is painful, or a reddish lump
  • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – A reddish lump that can bleed and ulcerate
  • Melanoma – A dark black, often flat, irregular edge. Very dangerous with high risk of spreading. Easily removed when caught early, but can be fatal when diagnosed/treated late
  • Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC)

Mole check advice

Dr Ross Perry at Cosmedics Skin Clinics urges everyone to check regularly for changing moles and to see a doctor straightaway of there are any concerns about the appearance or behaviours of a particular skin lesion. He describes it as the ‘ugly duckling’ syndrome – something that is just different and not quite right.

Dr Perry suggests the ‘ABCDE’ rule of suspicious moles; any of which may indicate that it’s time to see a GP:

  • Asymmetry: Different shapes and/or sizes from left to right or top to bottom.
  • Borders: Edges look uneven, scalloped or notched rather than smooth
  • Colour: Colour variations within a mole, which may include brown, tan, black, red or blue rather than an even colour
  • Diameter: If the mole is larger than 6mm, then it is cause for concern.
  • Evolving: Any moles which seem to be changing in size, shape, colour or height are deemed risky. Also watch out for itchiness, discharge, bleeding or crustiness.

Thankfully most moles turn out to be ‘cosmetic’, but it is important to rule out any issues as early as possible.

Mole Checks By Experienced Doctors & Surgeons

Cosmedics Skin Clinics offer a top to toe mole check, which assesses every part of the skin to identify any potential issues. This is carried out by trained and experienced doctors or surgeons. Most moles do turn out to be ‘cosmetic’ issues rather than a ‘medical’ concern. However, when a mole is found to be suspicious, early treatment tends to lead to the best results.

MOLE CHECK

Mole Removal

Even when there is no medical risk, many clients want to get rid of moles for aesthetic reasons or for peace of mind. Dr Perry has removed thousands in his career and Cosmedics Skin Clinic is a leading provider of mole removal procedures in the UK with clinics in London and Bristol, carrying out thousands of procedures to remove unwanted moles for cosmetic reasons.

Consultations and mole removal surgery are carried out by experienced doctors who can remove moles same day using local anaesthetic to make the treatment completely pain-free. The team use the latest methods designed for minimal-scarring results after healing. All moles are sent for independent lab testing as a precaution and the results are sent to the client within a few days.

MOLE REMOVAL

For further information, you may also be interested in Dr Ross Perry Guide to Mole Removal Techniques.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics

Cosmedics Skin Clinics was established in 2003 and has built up an excellent reputation for cosmetic and medical skin treatments, carried out by GMC Registered Doctors.  The company offer a full range of cosmetic treatments, including popular lip enhancement and wrinkle relaxing injections, dermal fillers; plus medical treatments including mole removal, thread vein treatment and excessive sweating injections.

Cosmedics Skin Clinics has a team of skin treatment doctors and surgeons in their 5 skin clinics across London and Bristol led by Dr Ross Perry.

Call 020 7386 0464 or email enquiries@cosmedics.co.uk to book an appointment.

 

Back to blog
Share:
Related Articles
The Haemorrhoid Clinic London services
Medical The Haemorrhoid Clinic Expands London Locations
calendar 28 March 2024
Read More
male upper blepharoplasty before after
Cosmetic Male Upper Blepharoplasty Case Study – Video & Photos
calendar 12 March 2024
Read More

Get In Touch

Please fill in your details and our skin advisors will call you back to give you more information.

You can also add an optional short message.

[elfsight_whatsapp_chat id=”1″]

Explore more

Skin treatments

Skin treatments
Arrow

Conditions

Conditions
Arrow

About

About
Arrow

Pricing

Pricing
Arrow