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One in 10 moles scanned by Boots UK needs follow up

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One in 10 moles scanned by Boots UK needs follow up

One in 10 moles scanned through the Boots UK Mole Scanning Service have been identified as needing follow up, says the company.

The Boots UK Mole Scanning Service is available in 50 Boots pharmacies, in which images of the skin are captured by a Boots Healthcare Advisor and sent for analysis by a dermatology specialist.

Eight out of 10 people are failing to adequately apply sunscreen before going out in the sun, according to a survey carried out by the British Association of Dermatologists to mark Sun Awareness Week (8 to 14 May).

Two-fifths of people (40 per cent) said they never check their skin for indications of the disease, found a survey conducted by the British Association of Dermatologists, and over three-quarters of young people wouldn’t recognise key signs of melanoma.

Melanoma is the fastest growing form of skin cancer in the UK and incidence rates have increased by 119 per cent in the UK since the early 1990s, according to Cancer Research UK. Early detection of melanoma hugely improves survival rates.

“We know our customers lead very hectic and busy lifestyles and checking moles are probably very low on a person’s priority list, but it is something everyone should be very aware of. If caught early, melanoma can be dealt with quickly and successfully and this is just another fantastic example of how community pharmacists can use their clinical skills to support patients’ health in locations and at times that are convenient to them,” commented Richard Bradley, pharmacy director, Boots UK.

The ABCDE melanoma checklist

Asymmetry – melanomas are usually asymmetrical and irregular in shape

Border – the border of early melanomas can be uneven

Colour – melanomas can present in a variety of colours, while benign moles tend to be a single shade of brown

Diameter – melanomas tend to be larger than 6mm in diameter

Evolving – moles that are changing in any way should be checked.

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