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Pharmacies in Devon and Torbay have been helping people to spot early signs of skin cancer.  

As part of the ‘know your skin’ campaign NHS Devon and Torbay Care Trust have trained pharmacy staff, including counter staff, to talk to customers about the risks of skin cancer.  

The campaign aims to raise awareness of skin cancer and how to stay safe in the sun.  

Pharmacy staff have been talking to people who are sunburnt, have red or fair hair, a lot of moles or freckles, or have a personal or family history of skin cancer.  

They have been offering advice on over the counter sun protection products, such as sunscreen, advice on how to protect skin in the sun, helping customers assess their risk and signposting them to their GP or pharmacist if appropriate.  

Torbay has the third and Devon has the fourth highest incidence rates of malignant melanoma in the country, due partly to the high number of sunshine hours, an older population than the national average and a high percentage of the population of white ethnicity (people with fair skin are at higher risk of the disease).  Nationally skin cancer rates have quadrupled over the last 40 years.  

Dr Virginia Pearson, NHS Devon’s Director of Public Health, welcomed the new pharmacy campaign.  

“Lots of people visit their local pharmacy to stock up on their sunscreen, so pharmacy staff are ideally placed to give advice.  

“We all like to get out and enjoy the sun in the summer, but it is important that we take a bit of extra care, especially as temperatures were well into the 20s over last weekend.  

“Skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the UK and the second most common cancer among 15-34 year olds but 80 per cent of skin cancers can be prevented.  

“Everyone is at risk from skin cancer, and if children burn it raises their risk for developing skin cancer later in life.”  

Beverley Green, medicines counter assistant at Day Lewis Pharmacy in Paignton said: “The training was extremely useful and I felt it provides me with all the right skills and knowledge to support the ‘know your skin’ campaign.  

“It will also ensure that we give people the correct advice and support about staying safe in the sun.”  

Skin cancer accounts for about one in 200 deaths in Devon and Torbay.  

Skin cancer can be prevented, if simple sun safety messages are followed.  

The top rule is to never burn.  Burning can be avoided by seeking shade between 11am and 3pm, covering up with sunglasses and clothing, and using at least SPF 15 broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least a 4* rating, applied regularly and liberally.  

Check your skin regularly and see your GP if you notice any unusual changes.  Skin cancer can usually be treated easily if it is caught at an early stage, but can be deadly if left too long.