Check your skin

As part of a body MOT, everyone should check their skin for signs of skin cancer.

Each year, over 10,000 people are now diagnosed with malignant melanoma, the most deadly type of skin cancer, and around 2,000 people die as a result.

It is the biggest cause of death from cancer in women in their twenties. One in ten cases of malignant melanoma occur in the under-35s, and one in three are diagnosed in people under the age of 50.

Although young women (age under 34) are twice as likely to develop melanoma, men are more likely to die from it, probably because they hold back on visiting their GP.

What to look for when checking your skin

If you notice any change to your skin, get it checked out by your GP. But everyone should be on the look out for the following changes in a mole:

• Does it itch?
• Is it bigger than the blunt edge of a pencil?
• Is it a mixture of different coulours -shades of black, brown and pink?
• Is it inflamed or have a reddish coloured edge?
• Is there any bleeding, oozing or crusting?

Although a melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin, in women they are most commonly found on the legs, and in men, on the chest and back.

Ask your partner or friend to check out your back. You can return the favour! And don't forget to check all your skin including the palms of your hands and soles of your feet.

This article was published on Tue 19 January 2010