A leading skin expert has warned that far too many are mistaking potentially deadly skin cancers for harmless bug bites.
In an Instagram video viewed 300,000 times, dermatologist Dr Aleksandra Brown, said that thousands could be risking their lives by dismissing the second most common form of skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma.
More than 25,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with the condition every year. While it is highly survivable in early stages, when spotted late it can spread to other areas of the body, making it more difficult to treat.
And thousands do not know the vital signs according to Dr Brown.
‘Most often patients come in thinking that they have a cyst or a little thorn or it was just a little bug bite that got tender,' said Dr Brown, who is based in Virginia in the US.
‘If you have a tender spot on a sun-exposed site that has not gone away in two weeks then it is not a cyst, it is not a thorn, it is not a spider bite.
'It is probably a squamous cell carcinoma. Please see a dermatologist and have it biopsied.'
Dr Brown also urged the public to take preventative steps to avoid the disease.
‘You can prevent these by wearing sunscreen on sun-exposed sites,' she said.
'Sometimes this can be hard, if you work outside, you can wear SPF sleeves which are easier than reapplying sunscreen throughout the day.’
Squamous cell carcinoma is a non melanoma skin cancer. The main difference between both is the type of cell in which they develop and the pace at which they develop.
Melanoma tends to spread faster in your body than non-melanoma.
Non melanoma skin cancer accounts for 20 per cent of all cancers and 90 per cent of all skin cancers.
Experts warn that squamous cell carcinoma can vary in appearance.
The British Association of Dermatologists say that most look scaly or crusty, raised and rough as they originate from the outer layer of the skin. Underneath the scale, there may be an ulcer that bleeds easily, although this is not always the case.
The body adds that the lesion can also be sore or tender.
The carcinoma can occur on any part of the skin, but they are more common on sun exposed sites such as the head, ears, lip, neck and back of the hands.
The British Skin Foundation warns that some are more at risk than others.
For instance, those who are immunosuppressed—either due to medical treatment or conditions like HIV—as well as people who are fair skinned and more susceptible to sunburn are more likely to be diagnosed.
In order to combat the risk of skin cancer, the NHS recommends that Britons wear sunscreen when spending time in the sun, regardless of the temperature.
The health service also recommends, during spring and summer, that people spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest.
Another recommendation is to wear suitable protective clothing such as a brimmed hat and a long-sleeved top.
Studies show that when caught early the five year survival rate for cancer is 99 per cent.
