Health Issues

Over-exposure to the sun can cause accelerated ageing, skin cancer, cataract and other eye disorders.

The following information is from Sunsmart (Cancer Research UK) and Melanoma Foundation UK:

About Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the UK and the number of people who get it is increasing. Most skin cancers are caused by damage from UV (ultraviolet) rays in the sunlight or sunbeds. Many of these cancers could be prevented if we protect ourselves from the sun.

A Serious Problem:

• In 2010 around 100,000 people were diagnosed with skin cancer in the UK and over 12,000 were diagnosed with malignant melanoma
• Over 2,000 people die from skin cancer each year in the UK.
• Incidences of skin cancer have more than quadrupled since the late 1970s.

In fact, there are more skin cancer deaths in the UK than in Australia, even though Australia has more cases of the disease.

Types of Skin Cancer

There are two main types of skin cancer:

• Malignant melanoma - the most serious and potentially fatal type of skin cancer.
• Non-melanoma skin cancer - more common and easily treated.

For more information about Skin Cancer refer to:

Sunsmart UK (Cancer Research UK): http://www.sunsmart.org.uk

Melanoma Foundation UK:http://www.melanomafoundation.org.uk/

Medikidz:http://www.medikidz.com/