Fake tan makes it more difficult for dermatologists to diagnose skin cancer because it creates misleading dark spots and changes the shape of moles, experts warn
- Fake tan can make it more difficult for dermatologists to diagnose skin cancer
- Fake tan can create artificial marks or change the appearance of dark spots
- Experts at the University of Galway advised removing tan before appointments
- But reiterated false tan is still a preferrable method to sun tanning practices
Fake tan can make it more difficult for dermatologists to diagnose skin cancer, a study has found.
False tan can create artificial marks that are difficult to distinguish from naturally occurring lesions that can be a sign of melanoma or other skin conditions, according to experts from University of Galway.
False tan can also collect in the crevices of pre-existing moles or spots, making it appear as though they are changing in shape or colour – potential signs of skin cancer – even when they are not.
False tan can create artificial marks that are difficult to distinguish from naturally occurring lesions that can be a sign of melanoma or other skin conditions, according to experts from University of Galway. Stock image
The research by Lidia Shafik, Laoise Griffin and Mary Laing of the Department of Dermatology at the University of Galway was published in the Clinical and Experimental Dermatology journal.
The team found one in 10 women who attended appointments to have new lesions assessed were wearing fake tan that ‘limited accurate pigment lession assessment’ and led to the appointment being rescheduled.
The issue is of particular relevance in Ireland which has the highest per capita users of fake tan in the world.
What do cancerous moles look like? Checking is as easy as ABCDE
A is for Asymmetry: Look out for moles with an irregular shape. If you were to draw a line down the centre of the lesion, the two sides wouldn’t match
B is for Border: Check for jagged edges. Common moles have smoother, more even borders, while melanoma borders can look scalloped or rough.
C is for Colour: If a mole changes in colour or is a different colour in one part than in another, seek medical advice
D is for Diameter: Any increase in size should be checked, but be particularly cautious of moles that grow more than around 6mm across
E is for Evolving or Elevation: Watch out for moles that are raised from the surface. Also look out for moles that are Evolving in an irregular way with changes to the features listed above.
Pigment lesions are used to describe a range of brown or black spots on the skin including moles, freckles, skin tags and liver spots. Most of these lesions are benign but some can be malignant or cancerous.
Despite the impact on diagnosis, the experts still back fake tan as a ‘healthy alternative to sun tanning practices’.
To overcome the issue of appointments being rescheduled at a time when healthcare providers are already under strain, the clinic now advises patients to refrain from wearing fake tan to the areas to be examined in the six weeks before consultation.
NHS figures, published in May, show that the number of people in England diagnosed with all types of skin cancer leapt by 26 per cent in six years to a record 224,092 cases in 2019, up from 177,677 in 2013.
There are several types of skin cancer — the deadliest is melanoma, which is relatively rare but can rapidly spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is responsible for seven deaths a day in the UK and is one of the biggest cancer killers of those aged 15 to 34.
Melanoma develops when DNA damage to skin cells, for instance as a result of exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays, triggers mutations, causing cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours.
These originate in the melanocytes — pigment-producing cells in the innermost layer of the skin — and can rapidly spread if not caught early.
Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, where drugs are used to help the immune system fight the cancer.
Non-melanoma skin cancers, which include squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas (the type Helen had), are now the UK’s most common cancer ‘with more cases than breast, prostate and lung cancers combined’, says Professor Nick Levell, a consultant dermatologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Squamous cell cancers often look like a scaly lump, while basal cell carcinomas can vary in appearance, from an open sore, to a pinkish bump, a red patch or even a scar-like patch on the skin.
Squamous cell carcinomas can also spread to other parts of the body, while slower-growing basal cells do so rarely. Treatments include surgery and radiotherapy.
Melanoma: The most dangerous form of skin cancer
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It happens after the DNA in skin cells is damaged (typically due to harmful UV rays) and then not repaired so it triggers mutations that can form malignant tumours.
Causes
- Sun exposure: UV and UVB rays from the sun and tanning beds are harmful to the skin
- Moles: The more moles you have, the greater the risk for getting melanoma
- Skin type: Fairer skin has a higher risk for getting melanoma
- Hair colour: Red heads are more at risk than others
- Personal history: If you’ve had melanoma once, then you are more likely to get it again
- Family history: If previous relatives have been diagnosed, then that increases your risk
Treatment
- Removal of the melanoma:
This can be done by removing the entire section of the tumor or by the surgeon removing the skin layer by layer. When a surgeon removes it layer by layer, this helps them figure out exactly where the cancer stops so they don’t have to remove more skin than is necessary.
- Skin grafting:
The patient can decide to use a skin graft if the surgery has left behind discoloration or an indent.
- Immunotherapy, radiation treatment or chemotherapy:
This is needed if the cancer reaches stage III or IV. That means that the cancerous cells have spread to the lymph nodes or other organs in the body.
Prevention
- Use sunscreen and do not burn
- Avoid tanning outside and in beds
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside
- Keep newborns out of the sun
- Examine your skin every month
- See your physician every year for a skin exam
Source: Skin Cancer Foundation and American Cancer Society
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