Does being macho make you more likely to get skin cancer?
Skin cancer affects significantly more men than women, according to NHS figures – and men are almost twice as likely to die from the disease.
Melanoma skin cancer kills more than 2,000 people every year in the UK, according to the charity Cancer Research UK – and since the Seventies, skin cancer mortality rates in men have tripled. Rates of non-melanoma skin cancers (generally less serious than melanoma, but still need to be diagnosed and treated) are also higher in men – and experts have warned that these figures will keep rising.
While there’s no single factor at play, is it time for some serious talk about male sun-care?
Even removing dangerous melanomas from the picture, when men use sun protection they are less likely to get a painful burn, and develop signs of sun damage, like uneven skin tone or sun spots.
Alex Doyle, founder of male skincare and cosmetics brand Altr (altrlondon.com), believes “gender norms are incredibly important in all of this. Men haven’t faced as much pressure as women to look after their skin.
“Recent growth in use of Instagram, TikTok, and Zoom, however, means men are on display more than ever, making them more self-conscious about their skin. But the concept of men’s skincare as a whole was laughed at 20 years ago or so, and even moisturising was seen as effeminate,” Alex adds. “This has now become accepted as standard practice amongst most men under the age of 40, and the market is quickly developing to catch up with the female market.”
“Everyday SPF protection is absolutely necessary, regardless of season or geography. All dermatologists agree,” 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.”
The good news is, a new world of skincare options is opening up for gents looking to keep their skin healthy, as well as make-up products so they too can express themselves, or cover insecurities. What should men be doing then? “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 Diane.
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 to protect your lips. And if you’re bald or have very short hair, you had better get some SPF on your head too.
“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 Diane.
“Don’t be afraid about wasting a doctor’s time – they would prefer you spoke to them.”