Be skin smart
Did you know that up to 90 per cent of skin cancers are preventable by adopting simple sun-safe strategies.
Skin cancer is also one of the only cancers we can physically see developing in its early stages and if detected, diagnosed and treated early enough, almost all cases are curable.
NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance's Be Skin Smart campaign was created so everyone can learn about:
- the risks associated with UV exposure
- how to prevent skin cancer
- how to spot the early signs and symptoms.
Postcards, posters and mole tracking diaries
We have developed a range of materials including:
- Posters
- Postcards
- a debit-card size foldout information card with a mole tracking diary, complete with handy ruler to measure your moles.
If you are holding an event or have a venue where you can display posters and give out postcards and wallet-sized information leaflets, please get in touch by emailing us at england.kmcanceralliance@nhs.net, putting 'Be skin smart request' in subject header.
Join the #BeSkinSmart campaign on social media
You can join our Kent and Medway #beskinsmart campaign by looking out for our posts and sharing them on social media. It will run from May, which is Skin Cancer Awareness month, throughout the summer to 31 August.
Summer Be Skin Smart roadshows
In Summer 2022 and 2023, our Be Skin Smart roadshow team hit the beach and outdoor events, with our giant deckchair, leaflets, wallet cards and a colouring competition for the children.
This year the cancer alliance is teaming up with Social Enterprise Kent (SEK) to take #BeSkinSmart out and about in Kent and Medway.
- Herne Bay pier, Central Parade, Herne Bay CT6 5JN on Tuesday, 3 June between 11am and 3pm
- Baytastic Event, Memorial Park, Spenser Road CT6 5QL on Sunday, 20 July between 11am to 4pm
- Walmer Castle sea front, Kingsdown Road, Walmer, Deal CT14 7LJ on Thursday, 24 July
- Together in Strood Festival, Strood Academy, Carnation Road, Carnation Road, Rochester ME2 2SX (Event postponed, new date coming soon).
See the newsfeed below to find out more.
Stay sun safe
No matter the colour of your skin, staying safe in the sun reduces your chances of suffering from skin cancer.
There are some simple steps you can follow to be skin smart:
- Avoid being in the sun from 11am to 3pm, the hottest part of the day.
- Make sure you apply sun cream regularly and try never to get sunburn.
- Your sun cream should have an SPF of at least factor 30, and a minimum of a four-star rating.
- Wear a hat and stay covered up with suitable clothes and sunglasses.
Find out how to stay safe in the sun on the Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance website.
Check your skin
Make sure you regularly check your skin for new moles, or changes to existing ones. Know your ABCDEs when it comes to checking.
If you notice anything unusual, always contact your GP straight away.
- A – Asymmetry: Both halves don’t look the same.
- B – Border: The mole has blurred or jagged edges.
- C – Colour: The mole has more than one colour.
- D – Diameter: Grows larger than 6mm.
- E – Evolution: Changes size, shape or colour.
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Learning how to #BeSkinSmart in Herne Bay
The blustery weather did not stop the Social Enterprise Kent (SEK) Community Engagement Team from bringing the #BeSkinSmart roadshow to Herne Bay Pier on Tuesday (3 June).
The team spoke to over 80 people, including two school groups – sharing information and resources on sun safety and checking mole changes.
Lisa Bates, Community Engagement Manager, said “While the weather somewhat scuppered our plans and meant we couldn't display all our materials, the team were still able to speak to lots of people and each person received a Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance 'Be Skin Smart' postcard.
“Thank you to Jane and the team at Herne Bay pier for hosting us. We hope to return with our full resources and some sunshine soon.”
Herne Bay pier roadshow: (Pictured left: SEK Community Projects Officer, Sukhwinder Sandhu and right: SEK Community Projects Coordinator, Kay Devine)
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Dull skies and downpours fail to deter Be skin Smart team's visit to Folkestone - 8 August 2023
Sunny Sands roadshow: Pictured (Left to right) are Macmillan Primary Care Nurse Facilitator Wendy Holmes, Macmillan User Involvement Manager Tracey Ryan and Public Governor at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust Carol Coleman at the #beskinsmart roadshow.
UV rays can still be harmful on cloudy days, so sunglasses, hats and sun cream were worn for the Be Skin Smart roadshow at Sunny Sands, Folkestone, on Tuesday 8 August.
Despite dull skies and downpours, NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance’s early diagnosis team hit the beach to raise awareness of sun safety and skin cancer.
Early Diagnosis Programme Lead Cathy Finnis said: “Although we left Sunny Sands in a downpour, we had spoken to many people, who took home our leaflets featuring advice and information on the early signs and symptoms of skin cancer, such as changes to moles. There were also stickers and a colouring competition for children.”
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Be skin smart on Margate seafront - 24 July 2023
Seafront roadshow: Patient partner Sara Turle and Early Diagnosis Programme Lead Cathy Finnis spread the word about sun safety and the signs of skin cancer.
Blustery weather didn’t stop NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance’s early diagnosis team taking the Be skin smart roadshow to Margate seafront.
The team set up their stand and giant deckchair at Margate Main Sands to share information about keeping safe in the sun and raise awareness of skin cancer on Monday (24 July).
Tracey Ryan, Macmillan User Involvement Manager at NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance said: “The dodgy weather didn’t stop us! It was a real pleasure to speak with the people that were passing by.”
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What happened when Be skin smart hit the beach
Summer 2022 saw NHS Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance's Earlier Diagnosis team hit the beach with its Be skin smart campaign.
The team took its skin cancer awareness roadshow to the seaside to highlight the importance of:
- being skin smart
- staying safe in the sun
- regularly checking your skin for new moles or changes to existing ones.
The roadshow visited Folkestone, Sheerness and Broadstairs.
