A CHARITY boss wants to show that too much sun is no laughing matter – by recruiting comedians to raise awareness.
Melanoma UK CEO Tracy Paine is concerned that detection rates in Scotland lag behind those in England.
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It’s now the fifth most common cancer in the UK and it’s on the rise with incidence rates increasing by almost a third over the past decade.
And while Scots joke about ‘taps aff’ weather even when it’s 15 degrees, that’s enough to do damage.
The charity has now teamed up with Tennent’s for its ‘Taps On’ campaign which sees comics design t-shirts for the sunny weather, with all proceeds going to cancer research.
Tracy said: “It’s amazing the amount of people who don’t know about skin cancer or melanoma – yet they know somebody who has had a mole or skin complaint.
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“Younger people aged 25 to 35 is where the biggest increase is because people don’t care about what they’ll be like when they’re older.
“It’s so concerning when you know what happens with undiagnosed melanoma as it can be killer – with seven deaths a day and 2,500 a year, when nine out of 10 can be prevented.”
Getting sunburned just once every two years can triple your risk of developing skin cancer
But in 2023, charity Melanoma Focus revealed 35 per cent of Scots don’t use sunscreen despite nearly half burning at least once per year.
Meanwhile, nearly a third have used sunbeds, a known cause of melanoma.
The lack of education around sun safety is a major issue and one that needs to be addressed.
Tracy said: “I’ve just come back from Spain and we all like a bit of colour in our face. But how do we do that safely?
“I had skin cancer removed from under my eye. My parents had a sun lamp in the 1970s because they thought you looked healthy with a glow.
“Then you reach your 40s and realise something is under your eye that needs removed.
“We’ve spent time in Spain and the Spanish sit under sun-beds and disappear off at the highest temperatures and return to the beach later at night when it’s cooler.
“We in the UK go out in the midday sun despite it being the most dangerous time. You don’t need to do that to get a tan when there’s so many options out of a bottle.
“Even on Strictly Come Dancing they spray it on – so there’s a balance we can find.”
TOP TIPS
Here are five bits of advice from Melanoma UK.
- USE sun hats with a brim to protect your ears in good weather. I spoke to a lorry driver who had to have skin cancer removed from his ear. This was because as his ear on the right side always had sun hitting it.
- WE should avoid sun-beds altogether based on the information that we have about them. What we’re looking for is people to understand the risk of using them based on lots of evidence that’s out there about the dangers.
- TANNING injections and similar products are illegal. And why is that? It’s because they’re dangerous and we’d advise people to never use them. All we can do is share the research but they’re not a good idea
- WHEN children go out to play, how do you make putting sun cream on natural to them? Maybe make it fun where they perhaps put it on themselves. We’ve developed stickers for kids about sun safety too.
- UNLESS you’re a sportsperson who can’t avoid it, it’s best to avoid the hottest times of day. If you can’t, make sure you’re covered in sun cream that’s at least factor 30 and follow the directions of how often to apply it.
She added: “Men in particular are not good at using sun creams. We’ve worked with construction workers because the outdoor workers very much at risk.
“Jewson, for example, have made sun hats and sun creams part of their PPE.
“Our responsibility is to work with as many different partners as we can to help them make informed choices.
“We use ABCDE for noticing something different on your skin – Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter and Evolving.
“If you have a mole that looks different then go to the doctor and get it checked as early as possible.”
The lack of awareness is why Melanoma UK has teamed up with Tennent’s to create the collection of t-shirts designed by famous funny folk encouraging Scots to keep their Taps ON this summer
Still Game star Sanjeev Kohli and comedians Ashley Storrie and Larry Dean are just some of the celebs lending their wit to the tops – with profits going to the charity.
Tracy said: “The money will help fund diagnostic equipment and some educational resources for people who want to understand a bit more. It’s all about prevention.
“It’s skin cancer awareness month and a great time to raise awareness of such an important issue.”
Sanjeev’s t-shirt is dubbed MelTer and depicts the seasonal challenge of trying to finish an ice lolly before it’s melted.
The funnyman, best known for playing shopkeeper Navid Harrid in the iconic sitcom, is proud to be playing a part in keeping people safe.
He said: “We’re all guilty of getting a bit overexcited the minute the sun shows up – I’ve seen folk sunbathing on traffic islands.
“When it appears, we fight that urge to race to the nearest patch of sand to feel the sweet warmth on our bare skin.
“But while we’re busy basking in its glow, we often forget that it’s still pelting us with UV rays.”
And Joanne Motion, Senior Brand Manager for Tennent’s, added: “Braving a Scottish summer is practically a national sport, and no one does it better than us.
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“But while we’re all for making the most of every rare bit of sunshine, we’re also keen to make sure folk are doing it safely. That’s what Taps On is all about – having a laugh, raising some money for a brilliant cause, and keeping your burn-prone bits covered while you’re at it.”
