Spot the difference & save your life

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 478, 23 March 1993, Page 2

Spot the difference & save your life

bythe

Waimarino

Health Watch committee

Melanoma is a form of skin cancer. The good thing about it is that you can see it on your skin and it's curable if treated at an early stage.

What sort of spot to look for In its early stages a melanoma usually looks like a normal freckle, but unlike a normal freckle, a melanoma grows and changes - often quickly. The most important

things to look for in a freckle are these changes: • Change in size - especially if the freckle grows larger • Change in colour - especially if it becomes tan, brown, black and a mixture of red, white, blue or the colour spreads from the edge into the skin around it. • Change in shape - especially if the freckle becomes an irregular shape. • Change in height - especially if it used to be flat and grows larger. • Change in sensation - especially if the freckle

itches, is tender or painful. • Change in the surrounding skin - especially if it becomes red, swells or if colour blemishes develop next to the freckle. • Change in surface - especially if the freckle becomes scaly, or ulcerated or bleeds. How to spot it Check your skin every few months. Do this by standing undressed in front of a mirror and carefully looking at all your skin. Remember the soles of your feet, between your toes and the

palms of your hands. Use a hand mirror for awkward spots or ask a friend or family member to help. Do something about it if you spot something suspicious. If it's melanoma it won't go away by itself and any delay could be dangerous. See your doctor. On Saturday, 27 March you can come along to the Ruapehu College Hall between 9am and 3pm and be checked free of charge by a doctor and if necessary a skin specialist. People most at risk Adults who have: a fair skin; a close relative who's had melanoma; had melanoma in the past; many irregularly shaped freckles; been severely sunburnt in the past; been repeatedly exposed to sun in the first 20 years of life. Babies and children do not get melanoma, but sunburn at this stage may result in melanoma in later life. Sense in the sun Sunbum will make you look older! Apart from the risk of melanoma, overrexposure to sunlight also results in aged

: weather-beaten skin. The . sun is hard at work giving us wrinkles and making us look old with enough time. The sun causes the skin to become thin and papery and can lead to permanent skin damage. So remember, a tan only makes you look young and healthy for a minimal amount of time. Look after your skin by protecting yourself from sunbum. Take special care when you are on snow, or on sand or in the water. Also on windy and cloudy days. Normal activities such as walking, garden-

ing, shopping and taking part in sports are also times to use a recommended sun-screen and TOwear hats or a visor and loose clothing. Apply sun-screen often, especially after being in water, or when skiing. Snow can reflect as much as 85% of the sun's rays. Play it smart - practise sense in the sun. Waimarino free spot check day is being held on Saturday, 27 March at Ruapehu College Hall 9am - 3pm. Come along and reassure yourself about those spots!