1 in 8 Irish men will get skin cancer

Wednesday, 2nd May 2012

1 in 8 Irish men will get skin cancer yet 47% of Irish men never wear sun protection

Melanoma Awareness Month is a global initiative supported by La Roche-Posay to promote the early detection and prevention of skin cancer. In Ireland, La Roche-Posay is once again driving the month-long awareness campaign, alongside the Melanoma Trust, the Irish Cancer Society, Dr. Patrick Ormond Consultant Dermatologist and with the support of the Department of Health. The Minister for Health Dr James Reilly officially launched the campaign on April 25th 2012 calling on individuals to check themselves and check their family, protect themselves and protect their family.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland. Irish men are a particularly high risk group.

Just one blistering sunburn can double your chances of developing melanoma later in life.

SOS Save Our Skin is a public awareness campaign developed by La Roche-Posay which works to address the increasing problem of skin cancer in Ireland. This year the campaign is focusing on raising awareness amongst men. SOS Save Our Skin has created an emotive and impactful public awareness campaign video. La Roche-Posay want to encourage Irish people to share this message with their friends, family, partner, colleagues, kids and ultimately educate as many Irish people as possible. The video can be viewed at http://www.sossaveourskin.ie To help save Irish skin, join the SOS Save Our Skin Cause at http://www.sossaveourskin.ie/ and La Roche-Posay will make a donation on your behalf to the Melanoma Trust.

90% of all skin cancers are preventable. (http://www.cancer.ie/sunsmart)

Increasing awareness and changing behaviours will save lives.

Research has indicated that Melanoma will continue to rapidly rise in Ireland, with an increase of 41% in incidences of skin cancer in the last 10 years from 5,776 in 2000 to 8,145 in 2009 and we could see a trebling of malignant melanoma rates over the next 30 years* with people being diagnosed at a progressively younger age.

Safe sun behaviour involves taking the right steps to protect your skin - learning to do a skin check, seeing your G.P regularly and wearing appropriate sunscreen. Be smart. Be safe. Be Protected. Save your Skin.

http://www.sossaveourskin.ie

- SAVE OUR SKIN -

http://www.sossaveourskin.ie is a public health website dedicated to the early screening of skin cancer. It enables each individual to learn more about skin cancer, safety in the sun and to diagnose their personal risk level, self-check moles and mole map. It is a tool to support dermatologists in their effort to educate the wider public.

La Roche-Posay is urging the Irish public to look out for new lumps, growths or changes to existing moles, and also to be vigilant about monitoring moles in general. All details and pictures for reference are available on http://www.sossaveourskin.ie and any observed changes of moles should be discussed with a dermatologist or General Practitioner without delay.

These may be the early signs of skin cancer and early detection is vital for successful treatment.

Every year, La Roche-Posay drive SOS Save Our Skin - May Melanoma Awareness Month in Ireland together with the support of the Melanoma Trust, Dr Patrick Ormond Consultant Dermatologist, and the Irish Cancer Society. These parties together with the backing of the Department of Health are committed to reducing the increasing incidences of skin cancer in Ireland.

La Roche-Posay further demonstrates its commitment to sun protection and sun education by donating €1 to the Irish Cancer Society since 2006 for every purchase of Anthelios Fluid Extreme 50+.

For further information, products and visuals contact: Paula Hurley, Ph: 00353-1-4914355 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.