Wear sunscreen

The NHS “Cover Up, Mate” message particularly applies to farmers here in the West Country.
It is a rough, tough industry but workers who spend long periods of time outdoors are urged to protect themselves against the sun this summer because of the dramatic increase in skin cancer across the south of England.

Farmers, builders, sportsmen and gardeners are all being targeted by NHS England South’s Cover Up, Mate campaign because of their prolonged exposure to the sun – and men are a particular focus because research indicates that they are much less likely than women to slap on the sunscreen.

Latest statistics from Cancer Research UK show that since the late 1970s, skin cancer incidence rates have more than quadrupled in Britain. The increase is larger in the male population where rates have increased by 544 per cent, compared to 263 per cent in women.

Public Health England say that in the South West there was a 31.9 per cent rise in incidence of malignant melanoma between 2009 and 2014, from 1,444 cases to 1,906 cases. There was also a 14.5 per cent rise in mortality from malignant melanoma, from 248 deaths in 2009 to 284 deaths in 2014.

NHS England South West medical director Caroline Gamlin said: “Being outdoors is clearly crucial for farmers, builders, gardeners, Post Office workers and others, but there are simple steps can be taken to lower the risk of skin cancer and be sun safe.

“Men in particular need to take much more care. They need to use at least factor 15 sunscreen and apply it generously on all exposed skin – not forgetting their necks, ears and bald patches.”

National Farmers Union South West Regional Board chairman, James Small, who farms on Mendip, said: “Working in the rough, tough world of farming, we often want to brush things off and just get on with the job, but there are times when that kind of resilience can come back and bite you and this is one of those.

“We owe it to ourselves and our families to take the risk of skin cancer seriously and above all if we are bothered by something to not dismiss it, but get it checked out.”

Top sun safe tips include:
•    Use at least factor 15 sunscreen in the sun and plenty of it

•    Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin – don’t forget your neck and ears and your head if you have thinning or no hair

•    Wear sunglasses and a hat

•    Take particular care if have fair skin, moles or freckles, red or fair hair, or light-coloured eyes.

So as harvest is just getting under way and hopefully the sun will be shining throughout the rest of the summer, farmers here in the South West need to take heed of this health hazard and I for one will be dusting off my hat to cover my head where the skin appears to be relentlessly healing over my hair.

James Stephen MRICS FAAV
Partner
Rural Practice Chartered Surveyor, Wells
T: 01749 683381
E: james.stephen@carterjonas.co.uk