A TEAM of skin experts offering free checks and sun awareness advice on a Poole beach found several potential cases of skin cancer.

About 150 members of the public took up the opportunity to talk to the experts from Poole and Christchurch Hospitals’ dermatology units at Sandbanks beach.

Dr Caroline Morgan, skin cancer lead at Poole Hospital, said: “I would say that probably 10 to 15 per cent of them had something that meant they should go and see their GP for a referral and we picked up one person who had a melanoma.”

Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun, with five or more episodes of sunburn doubling people’s risk of melanoma, the most serious kind. Dr Morgan said most of the people attending the event had sun damaged skin.

“In Poole we have such a cohort of people who are out in the sun all day, often without sun cream on. Some people think skin cancer is never going to happen to them. I think the key is to educate young parents and children that if you get sunburnt in childhood, your chance of melanoma goes up considerably.”

Nearly two-thirds of patients attending Poole’s dermatology department are treated for skin cancer and sun damage. More than 120 new patients with melanoma are treated there each year.

One grateful patient who was diagnosed with melanoma at a similar event a few years ago went back to thank the team after undergoing successful treatment.

Skin cancer rates are rising by 10 per cent a year and doctors are seeing a growing number of younger patients who have used sun beds. More people die of skin cancer in the UK every year than in Australia.

The experts recommend covering up, staying out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, and using a minimum of Factor 30 sunscreen with 4-5* UVA protection even on cloudy days.