Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer we have here in Australia. And we have more of it per capita than anywhere else in the world, thanks to the fact that we have plenty of sunshine.

Still, thanks to aggressive public health campaigns like ‘Slip Slop Slap’, there’s a high level of awareness in the community about the dangers of overexposure to sunlight, particularly in young children. However, I would recommend that people of all ages get into the habit of booking in for regular skin check, approximately every 2 years, so any skin changes can be monitored accordingly.

The sooner a skin cancer is identified and treated, the better your chance of avoiding surgery or, in the case of a serious melanoma or other skin cancer, potential disfigurement or even death.

The good news is that ninety-five percent of skin cancers can be treated successfully if detected early. So get to know your skin and check it regularly to catch any suspicious lumps or spots as early as possible. Pay particular attention to your arms, legs, face, back, neck, shoulders and backs of your hands.

Look for any mole, spot, lump or patch that:

• changes size, shape and/or colour
• becomes inflamed, itchy or painful
• bleeds or is crusty
• doesn’t heal after four weeks. You can’t feel UV rays. The warmth you feel on your skin is actually caused by the sun’s infrared radiation. So just because you can’t feel the hot rays of the sun, it doesn’t mean you won’t get sunburnt. A good rule to follow is in late autumn and winter, when the UV Index typically falls below 3, spend time outdoors with some skin uncovered. Being physically active (e.g. gardening or going for a brisk walk) also helps boost vitamin D levels. When the UV index is 3 or above, most Australians need sun protection – Slip Slop Slap. Dr David Mullen
• Lorne Medical Centre
•  Another common question is do I need to wear sunscreen in Winter? The short answer is yes.
• If you notice any of the above skin changes, talk to your doctor for further investigation.

If you notice any of the above skin changes, talk to your doctor for further investigation.

 Another common question is do I need to wear sunscreen in Winter? The short answer is yes.

You can’t feel UV rays. The warmth you feel on your skin is actually caused by the sun’s infrared radiation. So just because you can’t feel the hot rays of the sun, it doesn’t mean you won’t get sunburnt.

 A good rule to follow is in late autumn and winter, when the UV Index typically falls below 3, spend time outdoors with some skin uncovered. Being physically active (e.g. gardening or going for a brisk walk) also helps boost vitamin D levels. When the UV index is 3 or above, most Australians need sun protection – Slip Slop Slap.

Dr David Mullen