Skin specialist Jonathan Bowling is urging you to take a good, hard look at your skin.

Knowing what it should look like will help you spot skin cancer quickly – and could save your life, says the consultant dermatologist.

Dr Bowling was speaking in the wake of a report by the British Association of Dermatologists which showed that 44 per cent of those who check their skin for cancer do not realise a changing mole might indicate a melanoma – a form of potentially deadly skin cancer.

Dr Bowling, who is based at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital, said: “Melanoma is the most common form of cancer affecting young people between the ages of 15 and 34. Twenty five per cent of people with melanoma die.

“I would encourage people to get to know their skin. Get to know your marks and blemishes and identify anything that is changing. If anything does change or look different, get it checked out. You should check your skin now and check it again at the end of the summer.”

Melanoma is a tumour of the pigment cells in skin. It is characterised by a change in the shape, size and thickness of moles but it can spread to other areas of the body, including organs.

The rate of melanoma is increasing faster than any other type of cancer and, nationwide, there are 2,000 deaths a year from the disease.

In Oxfordshire there are about 200 cases of melanoma a year.

Dr Bowling said: “If melanoma has spread around the body we don’t have a treatment for it, so detection and prevention are incredibly important.

“If we can prevent it occurring in the first place, by reducing exposure to sunlight, we can reduce this epidemic.”

The survey was undertaken to promote Sun Awareness Week, which is the British Association of Dermatologists’ annual drive to promote sun safety messages before people head off on their summer holidays.

It also showed more than half of people polled – 59 per cent – would not recognise the most common type of skin cancer, non-melanoma, characterised by a scab which does not heal.

Though not fatal, Dr Bowling said non-melanoma can form ulcers, so it does need to be treated and removed.

In addition, a third of those asked in the survey incorrectly set the time it would take for skin to burn on a sunny day in the UK at 20 minutes.

In fact most skin will burn in just 10 minutes.

But Dr Bowling said skin cancer can be prevented if people follow simple steps.

“Wear hats and sunscreen to protect you from the sun, but make sure this doesn’t stop you enjoying the summer,” he said.

  • There are two types of skin cancer.

The least serious, non-melanoma, is characterised by a scab that does not heal; crusty skin with a red, inflamed base; and a scaly, red, flat mark.

The most dangerous type, melanoma, is characterised by a mole that changes shape, size, thickness or colour, which itches or bleeds.

Get to know your body. If there are any changes to marks or blemishes, or if any new ones appear, contact a GP.