1. What I am going to talk about today
Moles
Good, bad, ugly and ugliest skin lesions
How to prevent skin cancer
Sunscreens
A word about Laser

2. Moles Most people have a few Most do not cause a problem
Occasionally a nuisance!

3. Flat dark moles
Junctional naevus – located at junction of outer and inner layer of skin
More likely than other moles to cause a problem – so the one to watch for!

4. Raised skin coloured moles
Dermal naevus – located in deeper layer of skin
Very rare that they turn into melanoma

5. Slightly raised dark moles
Raised in the middle
Surrounding dark pigmentation
Less likely to cause a problem

6. Looks ugly but good! Seborrhoeic keratosis Extremely common Rough top
Usually do not need treatment
Get them checked if any doubt

7. Sin tags Harmless but can irritate and aggravate
Neck, chest, back, armpits or in the groin area
Can be removed by cutting, freezing or burning

8. Warts Very common Nuisance but not a serious problem
Treatment can be more uncomfortable and troublesome than the warts

9. Treating warts Number of treatments, none of them very successful
Paints
Freezing
Duct tape!

10. How to cure your wart with duct tape!
Cover the wart with duct tape for 6 days. If the tape falls off during this time, put on a fresh piece
After 6 days, remove the tape and soak the wart in warm water for 5 minutes. After drying, rub gently with an emery board or pumice stone to get rid of dead tissue from the top of the wart
Leave the wart uncovered overnight and put the tape on again the next day
Continue for up to two months.

11. Actinic keratoses

12. Actinic keratoses Dry, scaly patches
Form on sun exposed areas of the skin, including the scalp, face, forearms, and back of the hands
Caused by years of excessive sun exposure.
If you develop one you are likely to get another

13. Actinic keratoses Actinic keratoses on the lip
Appear as cracking, dried lips

14. Actinic keratoses Actinic keratoses are considered PRECANCEROUS
Important to treat them
Treat by freezing, creams and sometimes surgery

15. Avoiding new Actinic keratoses
AVOID SUN EXPOSURE
The best way to avoid new actinic keratoses and skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun and the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays.
If you can’t avoid spending time outdoors, make sun protection a priority. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30, and cover your skin with long-sleeved shirts, trousers, and a wide-brimmed hat.

16. Basal cell carcinoma Commonest type of cancer 80% of skin cancers
NOT dangerous as does not spread beyond the skin

17. Basal cell carcinoma
A sore that comes and goes but never completely heals
A shiny bump or nodule, especially if it appears pearly or translucent

18. Treatment of basal cell carcinoma
Creams for superficial ones
Freezing for small ones
Surgery for others

19. Squamous cell carcinoma
10% of skin cancers
A dry, crusted, scaly patch of skin that is red and swollen at the base
A sore that won’t heal
Crusted skin

20. Squamous cell carcinoma
Can sometimes spread beyond the skin
Important to diagnose and treat early
Main treatment is surgery
Sometimes radiotherapy is used

21. The ugliest!

22. Melanoma 5% of skin cancers Most DANGEROUS SKIN CANCER
A mole that changes in size, shape, colour, or feel
A new mole that appears and continues to grow or change

23. The ABCDE rule
Asymmetry. Does one half of a mole look different from the other?
Border. Is the edge (border) of the mole ragged, notched, or blurred?
Colour. Does the mole have a variety of hues or colours within the same lesion?
Diameter. Is the mole wider than 6mm or 1/4 inch?
Evolving. Does the mole or skin lesion look different from your other moles or has it changed in shape colour, size or other trait?

24. Key point
If you notice a mole that is different from others, or which changes, itches, or bleeds even if it is smaller than 6 millimetre – GET ADVICE

25. Who is at risk? No one knows exact cause Fair skin
Many moles especially more than 50
Severe, blistering sunburns: People who have had at least one severe, blistering sunburn as a child or teenager are at increased risk of melanoma
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation – sunlight as well as tanning booths and sunlamps
Family history or personal history of melanoma

26. Treatment of melanoma
Surgery is main treatment
Sometimes chemotherapy

27. How to prevent skin cancers?
Minimize exposure to the sun at midday - between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Apply sunscreen, with at least an SPF-30 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, to all areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring.

28. How to prevent skin cancers?
Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the face – wear hat and sunglasses
Avoid exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps or tanning parlours.
Protect children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.), and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older.

29. Skin self check Monthly check for changes in moles
Stand in front of a mirror and check your skin for:
Unusual discolorations
Abnormal moles, looking for changes in:
Colour
Shape
Size
Check the hard-to-see areas:
Under your arms
The soles of your feet
Between your toes
Part your hair and check your scalp
Have your partner check your back for skin discolorations and changing moles

30. About sunscreens
Sunscreen protects your skin by absorbing and reflecting ultraviolet rays from the sun

31. Sunscreens
All sunscreens have a sun protection factor (SPF) rating that indicates how long a sunscreen remains effective on the skin.
If you normally develop a sunburn in 10 minutes without wearing a sunscreen, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will protect you for 150 minutes — 10 minutes multiplied by the SPF of 15.

32. Sunscreens
Use a "broad spectrum" sunscreen – one that protects against ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB)
Use sunscreens with an SPF of at least 30.
Adults should cover their bodies in enough sunscreen that would fill a shot glass and reapply every two hours.

33. Laser treatment Not generally on the NHS!
Useful for hair removal, thread veins, skin blemishes and scars
Important to select a clinic with good track record

34. Take Home Messages
If you notice a new skin lesion that stays or an old one that starts changing GET ADVICE.
Enjoy the Sun but with RESPECT
IF you have a wart and you know it, make your way to the nearest DIY store and get some duct tape
Above all, Smile a little and
Keep Safe

35. Acknowledgement
Some pictures from with thanks