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Health

24th Oct 2015

This 30-Second Skin Test Can Predict Your Skin Cancer Risk

Melanoma is the deadliest form of cancer.

Megan Cassidy

Summer is over, but that doesn’t mean we are no longer at risk of sun damage. 

In fact, the sun’s rays can damage your skin all through the year and precautions should be taken year-round – with some needing to be more cautious than others.

This simple skin test only takes thirty seconds and will tell you if you are more susceptible to skin cancer.

 

 

Summer woman putting sunblock to protect her skin

SPF should be worn year-round. 

According to a study published in British Journal of Dermatology, the amount of moles on your arm is indicitive of the amount of moles on your entire body, and subsequently your risk of melanoma.

The research found that women with more than eleven moles on their right arm generally had more than one hundred moles on their entire bodies – and the more moles you have, the higher your risk of the disease.

In fact, researchers claim that your risk increases by two to four per cent with each additional mole.

The point here is not to scaremonger, but just to know your risk and take the necessary precautions.

Needless to say, we should all wear sunscreen where possible, but if your mole count is on the higher end of the scale, then you should ensure you never skip SPF, avoid sun beds, and make sure to go for a full body check regularly.