Dreaming of your summer holidays?
Booking a summer holiday gives you something to look forward to during a long, dreary winter. Knowing that in a few months time you will be relaxing in sunnier climes can help make the endless weeks of rain and cold seem almost bearable.
But if your idea of a perfect holiday is two weeks baking in a Mediterranean suntrap, you would be well advised to reconsider. So-called `binge sunbathing´ or short, intense periods of sun exposure have been blamed for a significant rise in the number of deaths from skin cancer in the UK.
According to Cancer Research, around 2,000 people in the UK die each year from skin cancer and this figure will triple over the next 30 years if sunbathing habits do not change. As well as an increase in the use of sun beds, the popularity of overseas holidays has been identified as a key contributing factor to this increase in skin cancer rates.
Does this mean we should all ditch our foreign holidays and spend our summer in the UK instead? Not necessarily. Spending time in the sun does in fact offer many health benefits. Exposure to natural sunlight prompts human skin to produce Vitamin D, an important vitamin which has been proven to help protect the body from diseases such as osteoporosis and diabetes as well as boosting the immune system.
Sunlight also stimulates the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that controls mood. Low levels of serotonin are often associated with depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Spending time in the sun can therefore help improve your mood, alleviate depression and generally lift your spirits.
So is it possible to reap the benefits of sunshine without increasing the risk of developing skin cancer? The answer is yes, as long as you limit exposure and avoid getting burned. Sunburn causes damage which lasts far longer than the symptoms of painful, reddened skin. Getting sunburned doubles your risk of developing skin cancer and this risk is even greater in young people below the age of twenty.
Using a protective sun cream when exposed to the sun is an important way to avoid sunburn and something many people have been doing for years. You might be surprised to learn, however, that most people are not using enough. Around 35ml of sun cream or one sixth of a 200ml bottle is needed at each application to provide adequate protection from sunburn, but many of us only use a quarter of that amount.
Covering-up in the sun is another way to help avoid getting burned. Wearing loose, cotton clothes on the beach will help keep you cool as well as providing protection from the sun's harmful rays. Take a parasol to the beach, wear a sun hat and seek shade during the hottest hours of the day between 1pm and 3pm.
As well as taking steps to reduce sun damage, checking your body for early signs of skin cancer can help keep you safe. Look out for changes in any moles, particularly on parts of your body which are regularly exposed to the sun such as your face or arms. If a mole grows, changes shape or starts to itch, see your doctor.
The good news is that if you develop skin cancer, your chances of recovery of generally very good. Unlike many other forms of cancer, most skin cancer is relatively unlikely to spread to other parts of your body although early detection is important. Choosing a healthcare product such as The National Friendly Healthcare Deposit Account can provide extra reassurance should you develop the disease, as cancer treatment is covered in the terms of the plan.
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