Skin cancer is a growing problem in the UK. Help us change this.

A person will die from skin cancer every four hours in the UK and a new case is diagnosed every four minutes. It's a shocking statistic to behold when you think about it. Over 100,000 new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, 10,000 of which will be melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease. Deaths from melanoma in men have increased by a third in just ten years. 

There are three types of skin cancer: melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Cases of melanoma are rising faster than any other type of deadly cancer.
To find out more about  the different types of skin cancer please click on the links below

Melanoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma

In as many as four out of five cases, skin cancer is a preventable disease, so we've put together a few hints and tips on how to stay safe in the sun.

Nothing beats a cover up
Sunscreen cannot give you 100% protection. It is no substitute for staying in the shade, wearing close -weave clothing (e.g. cotton), a broad-brimmed hat and a pair of quality UV sunglasses.

Get the factor right
Use a high-protection sunscreen. For you, SPF 30 is our recommendation. For kids it should be SPF 50+. Keep babies and very young children out of direct sunlight altogether.

Get your timing right
Skin needs time to absorb sunscreen. Put a generous layer on about 15 to 30 minutes before going out. Reapply frequently at least every two hours, as it can come off when swimming or by sweating.

Know your rays
UVA rays are present al year round. They penetrate deeper into the skin, damaging fibres in the dermis which leads to premature ageing. UVB rays intensity peaks during the summer months. They penetrate the skin's surface and can damage skin cells causing a shirt- term  reaction to the sum e.g. sunburn.

Give midday a miss
The sun is at  its strongest in the middle of the day, so it's best to stay in the shade between 11 am and 3 pm, especially if you are pale-skinned. Just 10 minutes of strong sunshine is all it takes to burn pale skin.

What can I do?

You can support our Skin Cancer Appeal which aims to raise money purely for skin cancer research. Click here to find out more.