Protect your skin all year round: the message from experts as we head into winter. May is Melanoma Awareness Month. New Zealand has the highest rates of skin cancer worldwide. We cannot be complacent despite cooler weather.

Dr Nelia Lourens, Skin Clinic Taranaki surgeon, says, “People are often a bit more relaxed about skin protection over the colder months. While it may not feel as hot, ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause just as much skin damage throughout this time, increasing the risk of skin cancer.”

More than 80,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer in New Zealand each year, with more than 6000 of those being melanoma. It’s estimated that skin cancers account for 80 percent of all new cancer diagnoses in New Zealand each year.

Staying Sunsmart

While it’s the end of Melanoma Awareness Month, Dr Lourens says people should feel positive about the fact that skin cancer is almost entirely preventable, as there is plenty people can do to protect themselves all year round.

All the usual Sunsmart rules still apply. When you’re outside, slip into protective clothing, apply sunscreen (at least SPF30), wear a hat, wrap up in sunglasses, and stay in the shade where possible.

“People with health conditions such as an autoimmune disease, those taking medicines (such as antibiotics) that increase sensitivity to the sun, and those with a family history of skin cancer are also at a higher risk,” says Dr Lourens.

Early Detection

Early detection of skin cancer and sun damage is also extremely important.

“If melanoma is treated early enough, it is almost always curable. You have the best chance of catching skin cancers early with regular skin checks. This is particularly important for those with a family history of skin cancer, who should be having skin checks every year.

“At Skin Clinic Taranaki, we offer several skin cancer prevention and detection services, including single or multi-spot/lesion checks, full body skin checks and Total Body Imaging. We also offer NAEVUS Mole Mapping, a head-to-toe skin check where detailed images of all your significant moles and lesions are taken,” says Dr Lourens.

Mapping Measures

“NAEVUS Mole Mapping and total body imaging is especially useful for long-term monitoring, given that the first sign of skin cancer is often a change in the shape, size, or colour of an existing spot or the appearance of a new spot.

“There’s no better time than now to step up your skin cancer prevention measures, and if you haven’t been getting regular skin checks, it’s never too late in life to start. We’re here to help,” Dr Lourens adds.

To find out more about how Skin Clinic Taranaki can support you with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer and sun damage, visit skinclinictaranaki.co.nz

Just Cuts

Just Cuts has announced that its network of salons will work with Melanoma New Zealand to help amplify the impact of its life-saving prevention and early detection initiatives nationwide.

Over 250 Just Cuts Stylists in 32 salons across New Zealand have noted they are picking up more irregular spots on Client scalps each year.

Just Cuts CEO Amber Manning said the network knows all too well that checking skin can save a loved one’s life.

“We’ve all heard stories of Just Cuts Stylists in New Zealand seeing suspicious spots and saving the lives of their clients. When we put investing in supporting Melanoma New Zealand to a vote, it was a unanimous yes from all our owners because we understand how big an issue this is for all our communities,” said Amber.