A surgeon who says he is carrying out increasing numbers of skin cancer operations each year is warning children and adults about the dangers of too much sun this summer.
Consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Mr Animesh Patel, spoke out as the schools break up and many families prepare to grab their suitcases and head for their favourite holiday hot spots.
Mr Patel, who is the Trust’s plastic surgery lead for head and neck cancer reconstruction, regularly operates on patients who admit to being dedicated sun worshippers now or in the past, and those who use artificial UV tanning methods, such as sunbeds.
He said:
Every year, the Plastic Surgery Department carries out well over a thousand operations to remove sun-related skin cancers, and we do not see this number dropping.
So many of my patients who I treat for skin cancer say they have spent a lot of time in the sun, often in their childhood. I have removed skin cancers from patients of all ages, children to pensioners, so please take care whatever your age.
Even for those families not travelling abroad, we may yet experience more of the hot spells that we did earlier in the early summer, where the sun has been very intense, so the same message applies. Take care if you’re out on your bicycle or playing in the garden!
Mr Animesh Patel
Although it is mostly fair-skinned people who tend to burn easily who are at greatest risk, people of all ethnicities need to take care. Mr Patel removes skin cancers from patients with all skin types, including those with darker skin.
He advises parents to be vigilant, explaining that children’s skin - and especially babies’ skin - is much more sensitive than adults, and damage caused by repeated exposure to sunlight can lead to skin cancer in later life. Often overlooked is that UV light is able to penetrate cloud – so take sensible precautions even in cloudy weather – and remember that snow can reflect UV rays.
Equally, it is important to understand that adults and children do need some exposure to sunlight, particularly for vitamin D production, and vitamin D supplements are advisable for the under-fives.
He said:
Getting a tan is not necessarily safe or healthy, since a tan is the body’s way of trying to protect the skin from damage. At the same time, excessive UV radiation from the sun causes damage to the DNA in skin cells, and it is this damage that can result in cancerous changes developing in the future.
Do not rely on sun cream alone to protect yourself and the family. Wear suitable clothing, a sun hat with a broad brim to protect the face and ears and spend time in the shade when the sun is at its hottest in the middle of the day. Don’t forget the sunglasses, regularly reapply the sun cream, especially if swimming, and remember to drink plenty of water to stay well-hydrated.
The NHS website has excellent guidance on sun protection, and it is definitely worth spending a few minutes reading and understanding the principles of sun safety.
Mr Animesh Patel
To learn more about skin safety visit https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety (opens in a new tab). More information is available at Melanoma UK (opens in a new tab) and Melanoma Focus (https://melanomafocus.org) (opens in a new tab)
Learn more about the Trust’s new Cancer Hospital (opens in a new tab) and a new Children’s Hospital (opens in a new tab).
Listing picture: Hannah Pemberton on Unsplash