Using sun beds (even once!) significantly increases your risk of developing skin cancer.
It is also known that genetics and family history play a key role. There is a genetic predisposition to mm; some people may develop it in spite of never burning or tanning in the sun, some people will never develop it in spite of plentiful sun exposure over the years.
So is it really like winning a bad luck lottery?
In my family there was no previous history of skin cancer (there is now) and whilst I have many moles on my body my skin tans (rather than burns), so despite being aware of it I always thought that I would be 'fine' in the sun as long as I didn't burn. As it turns out, I wasn't going to be fine.
Would I have developed mm had I never sunbathed? Did sun exposure cause my mm? No one knows the answer to this question and it does not really matter to some extent. I must have had it in my genes (I will not blame my mum and dad as they did a pretty good job overall!) or it would not have happened to me. However, there is no denial that I was a 'sun worshipper' and when I had the chance I used to sunbathe a lot, so I cannot help but thinking, did my own actions play a role in my mm diagnosis. How could I have done this to myself? I thought I looked good tanned and I ended up with unsightly scars on my body, not to mention a disease which may cut my life short. I have thought about it a lot in my head and thanks to some good advice and support I have come to the conclusion that I should not beat myself up. However I can certainly use my experience to increase general awareness.
Thankfully not once in my life have I used a sun-bed, or I would be now convinced that it caused my mm. But obviously this also implies that those who did use sun-beds and then developed mm should not beat themselves up either as they may well have developed the desease even without using sun-beds.
In a nutshell: you must have a genetic predisposition to develop skin cancer, however sun exposure may trigger it if you do have that predisposition, so it's really not worth finding out. Please be safe in the sun. Below are the key guidelines as suggested by dermatologists and skin cancer research, however they are laid out in my own words:
- Always use sun block creams when outdoors, no matter if you are not laying in the sun. The sunscreen should have a SPF of at least 30 and be broad-spectrum (provides protection from UVA and UVB rays). Use it generously and reapply regularly.
- However remember, using sun cream does not make sunbathing safe.
- Please please please: seek the shade whenever possible, do not expose yourself to the sun between 11am and 3pm.
- Always wear a hat and sunglasses when in the sun.
- If you have several moles on your skin go see a dermatologist once a year.
- Learn how to check your skin for unusual marks or moles that change over time and seek medical advice immediately if you notice anything unusual. When melanoma is detected early the prognosis is excellent, when it is detected late the prognosis is poor as it will spread elsewhere in your body. Spotting melanoma early can save your life.
Also, below are some suntan myths which are horror to me and anyone with any basic understanding of skin cancer. Please be sensible.
Myth 1: A light suntan is ok.
No it's not ok. Even lightly tanned skin means that the skin has been damaged.
Myth 2, (the horror!!): 'I have a few sun bed sessions before a holiday in the sun so my skin is already tanned and I will not burn during the holiday'. Honestly, having a sun-bed tanning session as a precaution against skin cancer is like eating cheddar cheese and cheesecake to lower your cholesterol level. Do not use sun beds. Ever. Please. I am pretty sure that one day they will become illegal.
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