Risk of melanoma depends on many things including lifestyle factors and some medical conditions. In the UK, too much ultraviolet radiation causes around 85 out of 100 melanomas (around 85%).

Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer overall in the UK. The number of people diagnosed with melanoma in the UK has increased over the last few decades. The risk of melanoma increases with age. So, it is more common in older people but compared to most other cancer types, it's also quite common in younger people. Ultraviolet (UV) light is the main environmental factor that increases the risk of developing melanoma. It's also called ultraviolet radiation. UV light comes from the sun or sunbeds. In the UK, around 85 out of 100 melanomas (around 85%) are caused by too much UV light.

Signs and Symptoms:

• You have a mole that's changed size, shape or colour
• You have a mole that's painful or itchy
• You have a mole that's inflamed, bleeding or crusty
• You have a new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks
• You have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury
• Finding a melanoma as early as possible can mean it's easier to treat.

Check your skin for any unusual changes - use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see.

Please visit your GP if you have any concerns.

Treatment:

Treatment for melanoma can depend on where your melanoma is, how deep it is and whether it has spread anywhere else in your body.  A team of specialists will discuss the best treatment options for you which may include some, or a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Non-melanoma skin cancer is a common type of cancer that starts in the top layer of skin.

Non-melanoma skin cancer includes 2 main types:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Non-melanoma skin cancer can often be easily treated. The main cause is ultraviolet light, which comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds.

Things that increase your chances of getting non-melanoma skin cancer include your age, having pale skin and having had skin cancer in the past.

It's possible to reduce your risk of skin cancer by being careful in the sun – for example, by using sunscreen and reapplying it regularly.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

BCC is the most common type of skin cancer; they develop from basal cells and these are found in the deepest part of the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis).

BCC develops mostly in areas of skin exposed to the sun, including parts of the face such as the nose, forehead, and cheeks. Also, on your back or lower legs and are most often diagnosed in people who are middle aged or older.

There are several different types of BCC:

• Nodular Basal Cell Skin Cancer
• Superficial Basal Cell Skin Cancer
• Morphoeic Basal Cell Skin Cancer (also known as Sclerosing or Infiltrating Basal Cell Skin Cancer)
• Pigmented Basal Cell Skin Cancer

Nodular Basal Cell cancer is the most common subtype, it's very rare for Basal Cell skin cancer to spread to another part of the body to form a secondary cancer.

Signs and symptoms:

• Smooth and pearly-white
• Waxy
• A firm, red lump or may look sunken in the middle
• A pearly brown or black lump if you have darker skin
• A flat, red spot that is scaly and crusty
• A pale non-healing scar.

BCCs may also:

• Begin to heal but never completely heal
• Feel itchy and bleed sometimes
• Develop a crust or scab
• Develop into a painless ulcer

Please visit your GP if you have any concerns.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

SCC is a type of skin cancer caused by an overproduction of squamous cells in your epidermis, the top layer of your skin. Exposing your skin to the sun's UV rays puts you at a high risk of getting skin cancer.

Signs and symptoms:

• Look scaly
• Have a hard or crusty scab
• Look pink or red
• Have a raised area of skin
• Feel tender to touch
• Bleed (sometimes)

Please visit your GP if you have any concerns.

Treatment:

Surgery is the main treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer. Radiotherapy, targeted medicines, photodynamic therapy, and chemotherapy are also sometimes used.

There will be regular check-ups during and after any treatments, depending on the stage of the non-melanoma there may be follow up tests and scans.

Teledermatology is the use of a special high-quality camera to take photographs of skin problems. The photographs are then remotely reviewed by a consultant dermatologist (a doctor specialising in the study and treatment of skin conditions) who assess the next steps needed and if the patient needs to come into hospital for further treatment.

The Telederm service in Shropshire Telford and Wrekin is provided by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) and the images are taken by a qualified professional clinical photographer in one of the Telederm hubs.

Patients are referred into the service by their GP and are provided with quick appointments for the photographs to be taken. Remote triage of the images enables dermatologists to review twice as many patients than face-to-face appointments.

There is also a quicker outcome for patients, as they will have their results within two weeks rather than waiting a fortnight to be seen in person at hospital. Many patients with non-cancerous lesions can be discharged back to the care of their GPs without them needing a face-to-face clinic appointment.

• Dermatology at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
• Information For People Before They Come For Minor Skin (Dermatology) Surgery
• Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
• Lingen Davies
• Help and support for non-melanoma skin cancer NHS
• Skin Cancer Resources and Support from Cancer Research UK
• Treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer NHS
• The British Skin Foundation
• Melanoma skin cancer - NHS