Your body on a skin check

You may love the sun but don’t forget to keep an eye out for skin cancers

You may have a summer of sun, sand and outdoor fun on the agenda but with skin cancers accounting for around 80 per cent of all newly diagnosed cancers in Australia, that sunscreen and hat are vital. As is a regular

skin check, even places that you wouldn’t usually think about.

SCALP

When was the last time you rubbed SPF on your scalp?

That’s what we thought. Melanoma-type skin cancers can occur on any part of the body that has pigmented cells called melanocytes, including

the skin of the scalp.

HANDS AND FEET

Melanomas, which usually look dark brown, black or blue-black, can pop up on the palms of your hands and soles

of your feet. They can also hide between digits and under

nails as dark stripes.

EYES

Ask your doctor to check

your eyelids: between 5 to 10 per cent of all skin cancers can occur here.

LIPS

The lip consists of two parts: the vermilion (the red area) and the cutaneous part (the skin around the red sections). Both areas are at risk but 90 per cent of skin cancers occur on the lower

lip of the vermilion.

GENITALS

Exposure to the sun is not the only cause of melanomas; factors such as genetics and having a large number of sizable moles on the body can also contribute. It may be embarrassing but talk with

your GP about this one.