Health Notes, June 8th 2008, by Sarah Stacey

Sense about skin cancer

Skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the UK, with 75,000 new cases every year, and over 2,300 deaths.  The average age of diagnosis is 50 years old but 20 per cent of cases now occur in young adults, with more women than men, according to Dr Marko Lens of Kings College London, a member of the expert group which drew up guidelines for the Royal College of Physicians and the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD).

There are two types of skin cancer: malignant melanoma which can be fatal and non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell or squamous cell), which is the most common and can be disfiguring.  For more information including signs to look for, visit Cancer Research Sunsmart website, www.info.cancerresearchuk.org/healthyliving/sunsmart

People with the highest risk of malignant melanoma (ten times above average) are those with a very large number of normal moles, any number of atypical moles and/or two more cases of melanoma in first degree relatives.  People with freckles, red hair, skin that burns in the sun and/or any family history of malignant melanoma have two to three times higher risk.  These groups must always protect themselves from the sun’s rays but the big thing to remember is that burning is bad for everyone:  the human body is not designed to fry.

Here are the experts’ recommendations on keeping yourself and your family safe in the sun:

• Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm, with big-brimmed hats in closely woven straw or fabric, big Jackie O glasses  with wide arms, and dark-coloured, long-sleeved T-shirts and sarongs, or  caftans. 

• Slop on the sunscreen: if you are in the sun at any time of day (even if there’s some cloud cover), apply lots of sunscreen.  More is better: six teaspoonsful is about right for a normal adult body.  Two thinner coats are more effective than one so apply 15 to 20 minutes before leaving the house, then again after 20 – 30 minutes.  Re-apply every two hours, and immediately after swimming, perspiring or towel-drying.

• Which SPF? less than SPF15 is ‘irrelevant’, according to the BAD. Most people should use SPF15 to 25 (medium protection); even dark-skins need SPF15 in strong sunshine.  Children and all those with a higher risk of skin cancer (see above) should use SPF30, also if you are out on water.  (See the Know Your Risk section on the Sunsmart website, as above.)

• Decoding the star rating:  the SPF number assesses UVB protection while the 0-5 star rating applies to UVA.  The UVA protection should, under new EU regulations, be one third of the UVB protection (look for the letters UVA in a circle on the label).  To be safe, never go lower than 4 stars, preferably 5. 

• Moles:  if in doubt, get it checked out is the motto for moles.  If you notice any changes to a mole or new moles, tell your GP and if there’s any concern, make sure you’re referred to a consultant dermatologist.

Snuggly cot

A colleague who’s recently had her second baby by C-section recommends the Snuggle Nest three-sided mini-cot for newborns (to about three months): ‘it’s designed for a baby to sleep with you as the sides are high enough to prevent a parent rolling over on to them, or the baby getting tangled up in your duvet.  It also has “sleeping positioners” – two foam bolsters – to keep them in the middle of the cot, plus breathable mesh sides.  It was especially useful in the first week after my C-section as getting out of bed to lift my baby out of the cot would have been impossible.  It also folds up with a carry handle to use as a travel cot.’  Deluxe Snuggle Nest, £45, from www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk.

Body brush perfection

Can I remind you about the benefits of daily dry skin body brushing for cellulite and pimply skin on your body?  Before your bath or shower, brush from toes to heart in long strokes, not forgetting arms – great for stiff necks too. My favourite is Origins Raffe Body Brush, £10, from Origins counters nationwide, tel: 0800 731 4038, www.origins.co.uk.

Book of the week: Beating Stress, Anxiety & Depression by Professor Jane Plant and Janet Stephenson

The authors, both scientists, tell their own stories of depression and anxiety disorder first to show why they care so passionately about giving the many other sufferers practical, non-drug, self-help solutions to recover from these conditions.  Comprehensive, and hugely helpful for anyone with a low mood problem. 

To order Beating Stress, Anxiety & Depression (Piatkus) for £8.44 from Amazon, click here.