Although the Spanish public is more aware of the need for protection from the sun, there is still a long way to go before healthy habits are fully adopted. Most people only apply sunscreen in the middle of the day, applying products only once a day and often missing parts of the body entirely. These are just some of the common mistakes made when trying to protect ourselves from the sun and can lead to skin conditions like cancer.
Every year 5,000 new cases of skin cancer are detected in Spain, a number that is growing according to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO). The deterioration of the ozone layer, bad habits or the lack of daily precautions means that some types of melanoma are on the increase. “In the case of children, protection is vital because sunburn in childhood multiplies the chances of developing cancer in adulthood”, explains Valeria Dana, editor of Rose magazine.
A statement with which Dr. Alberto Conde, head of Dermatology at MD Anderson Madrid completely agrees. “The best way to prevent skin cancer is to be careful with exposure to the sun and avoid sunburn”, he says. Furthermore, the doctor also points out that it is important to consult a doctor if you notice any changes in your skin, such as a mole getting larger or changing in shape or color or that bleeds for no reason, because “skin cancer detected in time can often be cured”.
With that in mind, to inform the public and make them aware of the importance of prevention, more than 1,000 MD Anderson hats, 400 tubes of Uriage sunscreen and leaflets from the AEDV will be handed out at the ‘Real Canoe Natación Club’ in Madrid during the month of July.
As Aurora Barranger, dermocosmetics expert at Uriage Laboratories says, “At Uriage Laboratories we are committed to skin care and are aware of the importance of protecting the skin from the harmful effects of solar radiation. We want to contribute to making the public aware of the need for adequate photoprotection”.