Take a good look at yourself...

Hey ladies!

I decided to write this post after a very recent wake up call. Towards the end of last year, someone very close to me had been diagnosed with a type of skin cancer and I have to say, when I saw the affected area I was taken completely by surprise. I always thought of skin cancer as an odd shaped mole that had perhaps changed in texture or size whereas this looked like a patch of dry skin that was a little pink in colour. As I'm sure you'll agree, many of us wouldn't even consider going to the doctors if we had, what we thought was a little pink dry patch on our skin, we may put it down to eczema or psoriasis.

I genuinely couldn't get my head around the fact that this little patch of skin was actually a form of skin cancer.  I was then shocked to discover that there are two other major types of skin cancer aside from melanoma...

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

About 75% of skin cancers are BCC. They are usually slow-growing and don't spread to other parts of the body. If they are treated early most BCC's are completely cured.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma:

The second most common type of skin cancer, often slow-growing. Most people with SCC are completely cured, however if left untreated for a long period of time there is a possibility it can spread to other parts of the body. Occasionally, they can behave more aggressively and spread at a relatively early stage.

Maligmant Melanoma:

This is a less common type of skin cancer in comparison to the other two types mentioned, however it is far more serious. Melanoma behaves very differently to BCC and SCC cancers. It can grow very quickly and it needs to be treated early. If is not removed the cells can grow deeper into the layers of the skin, these layers contain tiny blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. If the melanoma gets into the blood or lymphatic vessels it can travel to other parts of the body.

I know this sounds really scary so I won't go into any more detail but I really wanted to write this post because although many of you may already know this, there may be one person that didn't. I just want to raise awareness of the importance of checking your skin and taking a good look at yourself. If there is ever anything you are unsure about, be it a mole or a patch of skin, please get yourself checked out.

I have popped two photos below, unfortunately they are very blurry but you can see the outcome of such a small patch of skin.

I know we all love summer and the thought of getting a tan but it is SO important to wear SPF at all times and take the time to look after ourselves. I am so relieved to say that my relative had a small operation to remove it and is now clear but it really has changed my views on sun protection. For more information please visit the Cancer Research website.

Time to dig out the fake tan instead please ladies!

Thanks for reading,
Lauren- Faye x