How do you spot the early signs of skin cancer — and why does it matter more than ever this summer?

Why are skin cancer cases rising — and why does it especially affect people over 55?

Cancer Research UK announced this month that melanoma skin cancer cases have hit a record high in the UK. Cases have doubled since the 1990s, and around 20,000 people are now diagnosed every year. Every day, roughly seven people in the UK die from the disease.

If you are over 55, a lifetime of sun exposure places you at higher risk. Melanoma is most common in older adults — and unlike many cancers, it is often visible, which means catching it early is entirely possible if you know what to look for. One in 36 men and one in 47 women in the UK will be diagnosed with melanoma at some point in their life.

The good news is that when melanoma is caught at an early stage, it is highly treatable. The challenge is knowing when to act — and that starts with checking your own skin.

What should you actually be looking at when you check your skin?

Doctors use the ABCDE checklist to identify warning signs in moles and marks. When you examine your skin, look for:

• Asymmetry — one half of the mole looks different from the other
• Border — the edges are ragged, notched, blurred, or irregular rather than smooth
• Colour — the mole contains more than one colour, or has patches of pink, red, white, or blue
• Diameter — it is larger than 6mm across (roughly the size of the end of a pencil), though smaller ones can still be worth checking
• Evolving — any change in size, shape, or colour over weeks or months, or a mole that starts itching, bleeding, or crusting

You do not need to tick all five boxes to be concerned. Any single change that feels new or different is worth having looked at — do not wait to see if it settles down on its own.

Are there parts of the body that people commonly miss when checking?

Yes — and this is where many people come unstuck. It is easy to check your arms and legs, but melanoma can develop in less obvious places. Make sure you also check:

• Your back and shoulders — ask a partner or family member to look for you
• Your scalp, particularly if your hair is thinning
• Behind your ears and on the back of your neck
• The soles of your feet and between your toes
• Under your fingernails — a dark streak running down the nail can occasionally indicate melanoma

A good habit is to do a full-body check once a month in good light, using a hand mirror for areas you cannot easily see. It takes about five minutes and could catch something at a stage when it is straightforward to treat.

What sun protection do you actually need — and are most people using it correctly?

The NHS recommends using sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and a four or five-star UVA rating. Most people apply far less than they need to, which significantly reduces the effective level of protection.

Here is what the NHS actually advises for effective sun protection:

• Apply sunscreen generously at least 20 minutes before going outside
• Reapply every two hours, and immediately after swimming or towelling off
• Avoid direct sun during the hottest part of the day — roughly 11am to 3pm in the UK from May to September
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat, UV-protective sunglasses, and clothing that covers your shoulders on sunny days
• Never use sunbeds — they increase melanoma risk significantly at any age

One thing that surprises many people: you can get sunburnt on cloudy or overcast days in the UK when the UV index is high. From May through September, UV levels can be high enough to cause skin damage even when it does not feel warm. If you are spending time outdoors, protection is worthwhile whatever the weather looks like.

How do you get a mole or mark checked on the NHS?

If you notice a change that concerns you, book an appointment with your GP. You do not need to wait and watch — GPs prefer to see things early. When you call, be specific: say you have noticed a change in a mole or a new mark on your skin and would like it examined. This helps the receptionist prioritise your appointment appropriately.

If your GP is concerned, they can refer you under the NHS two-week wait pathway for suspected skin cancer. This means you should be seen by a dermatologist within 14 days. That pathway exists precisely so that nothing is left to chance — if you are offered it, use it.

Some GP surgeries have a dermatoscope — a specialist magnifying device — and can examine moles themselves before deciding whether to refer. If your GP says they are not concerned but you remain worried, you are entitled to ask for a second opinion or a referral. Do not feel you are being a nuisance by asking.

What happens if your GP does refer you to a dermatologist?

A dermatology appointment for a suspected melanoma usually involves a close examination of the mole using a dermatoscope. If the specialist remains concerned, they will typically arrange a biopsy — a small sample of skin removed under local anaesthetic and sent to a laboratory.

Most biopsies come back clear. For those that do show melanoma, early detection makes a dramatic difference: melanoma caught at stage one has a survival rate of around 98%. Caught at a later stage, that figure drops significantly. The biopsy is not something to fear — it is the test that tells you where you stand and, in most cases, gives you complete reassurance.