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Category: Skin Cancer Checks

5 Ways To Protect Yourself In The Sun When Playing Golf

20/02/2019

Australia is the world’s skin cancer capital. At least two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer before they turn 70. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun is the major cause of skin cancer.

Every year almost half a million Australians are treated for non-melanoma skin cancer, and 450 die from it. Add to this another 10,000 Australians who receive treatment for melanoma. Fortunately, skin cancer is both visible and treatable. The five-year relative survival rate for melanoma for Australian men is 90 per cent and 95 per cent for Australian women.

While summer offers the perfect weather for playing golf, it also means golfers are particularly susceptible to damaging UVR (ultraviolet radiation) due to the time they spend in the sun while on the golf course.

This can lead to sunburn, skin damage, and even skin cancer. What’s more, the ponds and sand traps featured on most golf courses can reflect harmful ultraviolet radiation back at you, heightening your exposure.

So how can golfers stay protected? There are five simple sun safety precautions you can take to protect your skin without compromising your round.

1. Slap On Sunscreen

Make sunscreen your base camp when it comes to protecting yourself from the effects of the sun when you’re golfing. Use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen rated at an SPF of 50+, 30 minutes before you head out onto the course. As you’ll be working up a sweat, go for a sweat-resistant sports formula that won’t run into your eyes.
Remember to reapply every two hours, or more often if you find yourself sweating heavily.

2. Book A Sunrise And Sunset Round

It’s scorching out there this summer so wherever practicable, schedule your round for either early in the morning before the sun is at its peak or very late in the afternoon around sunset when the sun’s intensity has dropped. Courses often discount late tee-off times so you can help your skin and save your wallet simultaneously!

3. Wear A Hat And Cover Up

Besides sunscreen, the smartest form of sun safety is covering up. Not all clothing blocks UVR (ultraviolet radiation) so wear sun smart UVR lightweight protective long sleeves and pants. Where possible wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your neck, face and ears from the sun. This isn’t always practical during play so a baseball cap or a visor are useful substitutes. They remain securely in place while you are playing and provide reasonable coverage for your face. However, remember to slather your neck and ears with sunscreen as these vulnerable spots may still be exposed as you play.

4. Protect Your Eyes

Prolonged UVR exposure can carry serious consequences for your eyes. Cataracts are a common form of eye damage. Without intervention, cataracts can result in blindness. Sunglasses are a simple way to protect your eyes and the exposed areas of skin around them. They also reduce glare, improving your visibility when you’re out on the course. Look for a pair that preferably blocks 99 to 100 per cent of UVA and UVB radiation, or that carry a UVR absorption grade of up to 400nm.

5. Take Advantage Of Shade

While trees are rarely your friends on the golf course, they do provide welcome shade. So, give exposed skin a brief rest from the sun’s rays and find a shady tree. There are several options for shade on your average Australian golf course.

Similarly, give your skin a much-needed break from dangerous UV rays by fitting an umbrella specially designed for UV protection to your golf bag and opting for a covered golf cart. Both options allow you to cover up between holes.

Importance Of Checking Yourself For Any Changes And A Yearly Skin Check

As the chance of beating skin cancer improves significantly if it’s detected and treated early, it’s important you check yourself completely at least once a year and report the first change you notice to your GP. Watch out for any new spots or spots that are changing, bleeding, increasing in size, itching, changing colour or scaling.

Choosing The Right GP For Your Support

In selecting the right doctor for you, it’s important you find a doctor who understands your concerns and has the right experience and qualifications. That’s why all our doctors have their profiles listed on our website making it easy to get their background and special interests as well as checking their availability.

How To Book An Appointment

To book an appointment, simply hop online and select your nearest practice, choose your physician and book a convenient time. Alternatively, call our practice’s number listed on the website.

About Integrated Medical Solutions Group

Integrated Medical Solutions Group is a fully accredited, Australian, privately owned and operated network of medical clinics. We’ve been servicing our patients for over 40 years and we are committed to providing comprehensive, patient-centred care. We are dedicated to ensuring our patients enjoy the highest level of quality, affordable and accessible care.

Contact us online or call one of our practices today to arrange a consultation and get that critical annual skin check.

Your Skin and The Summer Sun

20/02/2019

As the Australian summer gets into full swing, the ritual that is our annual migration to a holiday in the sun begins. Australia is rightfully renowned for our beautiful sun-drenched destinations. Unfortunately, all that sun comes at a cost in terms of sun safety.

Sadly, Australia has one of the world’s highest incidences of skin cancer. Each year more than 2,000 Australians die from skin cancer and a staggering two in three Australians will be diagnosed by the time they turn 70.

Types Of Skin Cancer

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer but fortunately the least common. If not detected and treated early, melanoma can spread to other areas on the body with fatal results. Melanoma usually starts on areas with high exposure to UVR (ultraviolet radiation) like your neck, face, back and lower legs.

However, melanoma can develop on any part of your body, even skin that isn’t exposed to UVR. The first sign is often a new spot or an existing mole or spot that changes colour shape or size. Melanoma has a high survival rate if diagnosed early and treated.

Nodular Melanoma

Nodular melanoma is a quick-growing form of skin cancer. It can be life-threatening in six to eight weeks if not detected early and promptly treated. Nodular melanoma usually appears as a small, round red, pink, brown or black, lump on your skin.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Perhaps most common and least dangerous type of skin cancer, BCC often appears as a pale, red, or pearly scaly area or lump. BCCs are slow growing and are usually found on the face, nose, ears and neck.

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

These Squamous Cell Carcinomas (SCCs) are more commonly diagnosed than melanoma. SCC may not be as dangerous as melanoma but if not treated they can rapidly spread to other areas of the body. SCC on your lips or ears has the greatest risk of spreading. These need to be checked immediately by your doctor. SCCS typically starts on high sun exposure zones including your face, head, hands, arms and neck. SCCs usually look like thickened, scaly red spots that don’t heal.

Symptoms Of Skin Cancer

A key warning sign of melanoma is a mole, spot or blemish that changes its size, colour or shape or a new spot that appears on your skin. Look for part of a birthmark or mole that differs to the other. Check for spots with blurred, notched, ragged or irregular edges. Be aware of spots that have different shades of black or brown in them or occasionally patches of white, blue, red or pink greater than 6 millimetres.

Other symptoms to look for are:

  • Sores that don’t heal
  • Pigment spreading from your spots border into the surrounding tissue
  • New swelling or redness beyond a mole’s border
  • Pain, tenderness or itchiness.

At Home Checks

Getting naked to check your freckles, moles, age spots and blemishes may not be the highlight of your day but it is a savvy move, particularly if you’re over 30. Catching a problem early offers the best chance of survival.

Here is a simple five-stage approach to an at home skin-exam:

  • Check your body’s front and back in a mirror
  • Using a mirror, check your back and your buttocks
  • Check your left and right sides. Raise your arms, bending your elbows and check the back of your upper arms, your forearms, underarms and palms
  • Sit down then carefully check the back of your legs and feet, the soles of your feet and the spaces between your toes
  • Using a mirror check the back of your neck and scalp and use a blow dryer set on low to examine your scalp.

When To Get Checked

If you discover a warning sign or a potential problem mole or spot, have your doctor check your skin immediately.

How Frequently To Do At Home Tests

Check your skin each month and become familiar with your skin. Look for new spots or markings, or one that has changed in shape, size, colour or feel. Monitor your skin for unusual blemishes, sores, lumps, or changes in how your skin looks and feels. Be especially vigilant for bleeding, oozing or crusting together with tenderness, itching, or pain.

How Frequently You See a Doctor For a Full Examination?

Every Australian adult should have a full body exam at least once a year. Whether you have a skin condition or not, seeing your doctor for an annual exam is a smart part of your regular healthcare routine.

Remember; always see a GP right away if you discover any suspicious warning signs.

Choosing The Right GP For Your Support

It’s important you find a doctor who has the right experience and qualifications. All of our doctors have their profiles listed on our website making it easy to understand their background and clinical interests.

How To Book An Appointment

To book an appointment, simply visit our website, select your preferred location, and physician and book a convenient time. Alternatively, call our practice’s number listed on the website.

About Integrated Medical Solutions Group

Integrated Medical Solutions Group is a fully accredited, Australian, privately owned and operated network of medical clinics. We’ve been servicing our patients for over 40 years and we are committed to providing comprehensive, patient-centered care. We are dedicated to ensuring our patients enjoy the highest level of quality, affordable and accessible care.

Contact us online or call one of our practices today to arrange a consultation to assess a particular mole or to perform that critical annual skin check.