The arrival of sunny days and the approach of summer is a reminder of the importance of protecting your skin. It is clear that excessive exposure to UV rays and all sunburn increases the risk of skin cancer. It is therefore essential to stay in the shade as much as possible and use a high-factor sunscreen, both on the beach and in the city.
These recommendations are especially important for people with fair skin and children under 15 years old, regardless of their phototype. In fact, suffering from a sunburn before this age is an important risk factor for developing skin cancer in adulthood.
Another reflex to prevent skin cancer: screening. To do this, you can do a skin self-examination several times a year. But a consultation with a dermatologist remains important. “For people who have one or more risk factors for developing skin cancer, it is generally recommended that they be seen at least once a year by a dermatologist,” as determined by Medicare.
For others, talk to your doctor.
Inferiority and ignorance
Basic recommendations, but they are far from being respected by everyone. On the other hand, because many still believe that sunburn predisposes the skin to tanning. Secondly, because of the lack of specialists. Thus, there are only 4,000 dermatologists in France, as reported by Pierre Hamann of the Society of Young Dermatologists to our colleagues in France Info. They are often concentrated in large cities, many of which are approaching retirement age. The result, very long delays – up to 6 or 8 months in some cases – to get an appointment.
No wonder cases of skin cancer are not declining. In a recent survey by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology of 44,689 adults in 27 countries, 1.71% of participants said they had skin cancer. Which makes it possible, in comparison with the general population, to estimate the number of cases on the continent at 7,304 000. The authors predict an increase in the number of cancer cases by more than 40% by 2040.
That is why, according to Professor Marie-Elithe Richard of La Timon University Hospital in Marseille and the study’s lead author, “it is necessary to implement new preventive measures against skin cancer, which has an excellent prognosis if detected early.”
Among the actions that will be implemented, “Strengthening the protection of children and adolescents is key to reducing the risks of these tumors later in life,” she continues. How ? For example by “regulating the use of sunbeds as medical devices and not as simple consumer products.”
