Stay safe under the sun this summer

SKIN PROTECTIVE MEASURES

This summer, hats on, umbrellas up, all set with a shield of high performance sunscreen on the skin and you're ready to brave the scorching sun.

Dermatologist Dr Nopadon Noppakun.

Dermatologists warn that it's necessary to heighten your defences against skin cancer - an increasing health concern among Thais. Although Caucasians have a higher risk, Thais constantly exposed to sunlight may also be susceptible to skin cancer and they need to be on the watch out for abnormal skin growths.

"Compared to other types of cancer, skin cancer is easier to detect because it's visible to the naked eye. Thus Thais should regularly self-examine their skin and consult a doctor about abnormalities," says Nopadon Noppakun, MD, a speaker at La Roche-Posay's Be Sun Smart workshop, recently held at Grand Hyatt Erawan.

Fair-skinned people produce less melanin (protective UV-filter pigment), which makes them more vulnerable to developing the three main types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. In spite of having more melanin as natural sun protection, darker-skinned types can still be afflicted with the cancers, especially basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

"Sun exposure increases the risk, and so skin cancer usually develops on skin surfaces exposed to sunlight; on the head, face and neck. However, it may go unnoticed or mistaken as a bump or a sore, and further enlarges and grows into the skin," explains Dr Nopadon. "Besides sun protection, early detection is a key to prevent progress of the cancer. If treated at an early stage, most skin cancers are curable."

Melanoma is more common among Caucasians. Nevertheless, Thais should regularly monitor their moles to spot any sudden appearance of new ones and to observe changes in size, shape, and colour of existing moles.

"Look out for the 'ugly duckling'. A person's moles are often similar in appearance and a new pigmented lesion can be considered suspect if it has a different appearance from other moles," advises the dermatologist.

In addition, self-examination of the skin following the ABCDE (Asymmetry, Borders, Colour, Diameter, Evolution) method can help identify looming melanoma.

A mole that is asymmetrical with irregular and jagged edge borders, several colours, a size bigger than 6 mm, and evolutive in its size, colour and thickness may be a growing melanoma and you need to consult a dermatologist as soon as possible.