Here are some answers to questions we are frequently asked

I'm still young. Do I need to bother checking my skin?

Your chances of developing the disease do increase as you get older but in the 20-40 age group, the potentially fatal melanoma is thought to be the second most common cancer. It's important to get into a good routine of checking your skin while you're young. Don't assume cancer only affects older people.

I've found something I'm worried about. Do I need to pay to get it checked?

You can get a suspicious area of skin looked at free of charge through the NHS. You are not obliged to go to a private clinic and pay for treatment. Consultant dermatologists are the experts in diagnosing a skin cancer. If your GP suspects a possible skin cancer, you will be quickly referred to a local dermatology department via the NHS.

Do I need to check my whole body?

Although most skin cancers appear on areas of skin likely to be exposed to the sun, they can appear anywhere. Get into the habit of checking your whole body. We tend to forget the back, neck and head, and yet these areas are commonly affected.

In fact, the head is the most common place for basal cell carcinomas, the most common type of skin cancer.

Get a friend or partner to help you as it's tricky to check your own back and scalp. Do this once a month and look out for any changes.

Does skin cancer always look like a mole?

No. About a third of melanomas develop on an existing mole, so checking is crucial. But most melanomas and the more common forms of skin cancer do not develop on moles. So you need to keep an eye out for other changes to your skin, such as new moles or areas of pigmentation, a scab that won't heal or crusty, inflamed areas of skin.