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Claris Group Explain Why Millennials Need To Get Skin Checks for Skin Cancer

Monday 22 January 2018, 2:44PM

By Beckie Wright

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Researchers from the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University recently did a study that found subjects who reported at least five blistering sunburns, between the ages of 15 and 20, were 80% more likely to develop melanoma in adulthood, than those without a history of serious burns. There is a common misconception that melanoma only affects older people, but the people who are now suffering from skin cancer or dying of melanoma were children and teenagers when the damage began, we know better now and we know how to prevent it.

Dr Maria DS Reeves, who started Claris, a skin cancer clinic in Auckland, was recently asked, “At what age should we be going for our first mole check?” Dr Reeves replied, “While we’re babies, up until the mid-teens, we depend on our parents to help us protect our skin against the sun by applying sun creams, wearing hats, sun glasses and protective clothing. At the age of 15 we become more independent, and we need to start protecting ourselves. This is the ideal age where we need to get our first mole check. Visiting someone who is an expert on identifying melanoma on young skin is essential, as they know what to look out for.

Millennials, just like everyone else, need to work on reducing their exposure to the sun, as well as getting regular skin checks. By doing this, trained health professionals can track mole changes and suspicious spots closely. The people who are now suffering from skin cancer or dying of melanoma were children and teenagers when the damage began

At Claris Group they spend 30-40 minutes checking all your moles and they also look in other areas of the body that are not exposed to the sun, as melanoma can also be caused due to genetic factors (DNA running in the family). An important factor here is to make sure you feel comfortable, safe and well cared for, and Dr Reeves always encourages her younger patients to bring a relative with them, because information about family history is essential and most of millennials need help with this! It also helps their parents express concerns about moles that may have noticed a change or those that you can’t see.

Dr Reeves uses photography for moles that she needs to review later or remember in the next visit. It’s like recording a journey that may change over time, and without a photo it would be like driving, cycling or tracking a route without a map.

For more information on mole mapping, mole checks and skin specialists please go to http://claris.co.nz .