Blondie may be having a good time, but is she thinking of the repercussions?
Slip! Slop! Slap! was the name given to a 1981 Australian campaign exhorting people to keep out of the sun, and take precautions, in an effort to reduce the incidence of the most dangerous and lethal type of skin cancer - namely malignant melanoma - and others, namely, squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas. The campaign's mascot, a seagull named Sid, advised people to "slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat" when they were out in the sun.
A few years later, Sid was screeching "Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide", as lovers of the outdoors were asked to seek shade and slip on some sunnies (sunglasses), when they were out in the sun.
Sid's concern was justified! Australians suffer one of the highest incidence of skin cancers in the whole World, due to the kind of sunny weather they enjoy in parts of the continent and a love for outdoor activites - which is understandable, given the great weather they enjoy. Following Australia's lead, many countries took up the example, and organised campaigns of their own - especially countries enjoying the same sun-drenched weather as the Southern continent......and this is where Malta comes in.
In Malta, annual campaigns have been held, exhorting people to stay out of the sun, and to use protection if they have to be in the sun. The incidence of melanoma is rising in Malta, and there were 336 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in Malta between 1993 and 2005, with an overall mortality rate of 18.5 per cent (62 deaths).
Melanoma is a direct result of extensive exposure to the sun's UV rays, and usually follows upon episodes of bad sunburn in childhood and adolescence, with a melanoma possibly developing years after the episodes of sunburn. Certain people have a genetic pre-disposition to this type of cancer and are more at risk than others. These are, namely, people with fair skin, blue eyes and red hair - and a tendency to freckle. These people usually have more moles and freckles, and therefore more of a possibility to develop melanoma in a pre-existing mole or freckle, plus more of a tendency to develop de novo melanoma. But, of course, this does not mean that melanoma and other skin cancers do not occur in people with a darker colouring.
It is therefore important to read the following points, and most importantly, to put into practice the advice given:
1. Try to keep out of the sun between the time of 11am and 4pm.
If you have to be in the sun....
2. Slip into a Tee-shirt.
3. Slop on a good sunblock/ sunscreen, the higher the SPF the better. Get water-proof creams and apply regularly throughout the day.
4. Slap on a hat - one with a wide brim. Pay special attention to the back of the neck.
5. Seek shade and seek to create shade by using big umbrellas and canopies.
6. Slide on a pair of large sunglasses to protect your eyes and the surrounding skin from the effects of UV rays.
7. It is all important that children and babies are well protected, and that sun-burn is avoided at all costs.
Finally, I would like to make a few points about what one should do if one find a suspicious mole (or any other suspicious skin lesion):
Any mole which is growing (and is generally larger than 6mm in diameter), bleeding, itching, is irregular in outline or in colour, suddenly appears on previously unblemished skin or which is painful or inflamed should be investigated, so please see your GP as soon as you possibly can. He will refer you to a skin specialist at Boffa Hospital, or to a private dermatologist, where an expert opinion can be obtained.
This applies also to any scaly, bleeding lesion or any scaly lesion which is slowly spreading on the surface of the skin.
People with a larger tendency than others to develop melanoma and those whose occupations involve a large number of hours exposed to the sun, may benefit from a yearly visit to a dermatologist, where moles are examined and any new lesions investigated.
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