Skin cancer in men

Skin cancer affects more men than women, according to NHS figures – and men are almost twice as likely to die from the disease. While there’s not one single factor at play here, is it time for some more serious conversations about male sun-care?

HOW CAN MEN PROTECT THEIR SKIN?

“Everyday SPF protection is absolutely necessary, regardless of season or geography. It’s something all dermatologists universally agree on,” says Diane Cannon from Melanoma UK, who are working with LifeJacket Skin, an SPF brand specifically for men (lifejacketskin. com). “Many women get this protection in the form of make-up, foundation and SPF moisturisers.”

WHAT SHOULD MEN BE DOING?

“To keep things simple, guys should find an SPF moisturiser they like and which they apply every morning before heading outside. Ideally, it would be SPF 30 minimum with a good UVA rating. When outside for longer periods of time, sunscreen is necessary on all exposed skin,” says Cannon. It’s important to maintain sunscreen application throughout the day, and don’t be afraid to ask someone to help you reach somewhere you can’t. According to the Mayo Clinic, skin cancer is most likely to affect skin that the sun can reach – like the scalp, face, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands. Legs can be another common culprit, and don’t forget things like protecting your lips from sunburn. And if you’re bald or have very short hair, you better get some SPF on your head too.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO SEE A DOCTOR ABOUT SKIN CONCERNS?

This isn’t just a conversation about protecting your skin with suitable sunscreens and products. It’s about making sure any possible warning signs of skin cancer are checked out early, too.

And remember – whatever your skin tone or ethnicity, all of this advice applies. It’s important for everybody to protect their skin from damage. Plus, although it can be harder to spot changes to darker skin tones, they may still be there.

“Every two to three months, you should check your skin for moles or marks that are changing. Look for growing size, changing shape, new colours, bleeding, pain, crusting, red around the edges, or itching. It’s far better to have things checked early and quickly, rather than let skin problems linger,” says Cannon. You might be thinking it’s nothing to worry about but getting things sorted early really does make a massive difference. As Cannon emphasises: “Don’t be afraid about wasting a doctor’s time – they would prefer you spoke to them.”