The Know Your Skin campaign popped into Devon to raise awareness of sun-damaged skin.
At Ottery Nurseries they focussed on spreading the word about solar keratosis to gardeners.
Solar keratosis (also known as SK) is defined as rough or scaly skin patches that develop where unprotected skin has been exposed to sun over time. SK can lead to non-melanoma skin cancer in a small number of cases.
Visitors were able to step inside the ultraviolet (UV) imaging photobooth where they had a photograph taken and received a free print-out of the UV image to take away showing the effects that prolonged sun exposure can have on their face by showing areas of increased melanin production.
Know Your Skin campaign supporter Dr Tony Downs, Consultant Dermatologist from the Royal Devon and Exeter hospital, said: “Solar keratosis is more likely to affect people who have hobbies involving prolonged sun exposure, such as gardening. The Know Your Skin campaign advises people on how to spot the signs of sun damage and also how to prevent it, so we hope that by being at Otter Nurseries, we’re encouraging gardeners in Devon to dedicate more time to truly knowing their skin.”
Charlotte Fionda, from the charity Skcin said: “It is vital people know how to protect and look after their skin in the summer months but also the importance of doing monthly skin checks not just by looking at their skin, but by feeling it too. We want people to understand that skin checks are about more than just moles and knowing how to check for any sign of sun damage is important.”
To find out more about solar keratosis and to learn how to conduct regular skin checks visit the new Know Your SkinTM website. You can also follow the campaign on Twitter @SkinCheck #KnowYourSkin.
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