THE ESSENTIAL
- In France, skin cancers are the most common oncological diseases according to the National Cancer Institute.
- Getting sunburned once every two years can triple the risk of skin cancer.
Another deleterious effect of global warming on our health. In the British newspaper The Guardiandoctors warn of the increased risk of skin cancer and melanoma due to the increasingly hot summers affecting Europe.
Sun burn
Julia Newton-Bishop, clinician scientist who leads the Melanoma Research Group at the University of Leeds, said: “Melanoma is basically caused by sunburn, and this weather is so extreme that I fear that sunburn will increase and later the incidence of melanoma too.”
In France, nearly 80,000 new cases of skin cancer are discovered each year.t among them, more than 80% are linked to excessive exposure to the sun. The most aggressive form, melanoma, saw its number of cases multiply by five between 1990 and 2018 to reach 15,500 new cases per year in France, according to Public Health France.
Changing behaviors
Professor Dann Mitchell, an expert in climatology at the University of Bristol, pointed out that the relationship between warmer weather and health could be indirect:
“This change in temperature also changes behaviors, and Britons tend to go out more when temperatures are high. This leads to greater exposure to sunlight throughout the year, and especially greater exposure to the UV portion of that sunlight, which is a known risk factor for skin cancer.” he explains.
Reduce exposure
Experts point out a number of measures to take to reduce sun exposure and avoid sunburn: stay completely out of the sun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., sit in the shade, cover yourself with shirts and hats, and wear and reapply sunscreen frequently.
Beginning of July, the national cancer institute had also launched the campaign: “The shadow is the coolest place!” to warn about the risks of sun exposure for children.
“Anyone concerned about a new or changing mole should see their GP immediately, as early diagnosis is very important and treatments are available.“, advises Sarah Danson, professor of medical oncology at the University of Sheffield in the Guardian.
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