Today it’s not so much about your hair as your skin. With summer upon us, it’s likely that most of us will be out and about in the sun a lot more. And that will mean more exposure to the sun. Skin cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in Australia and affects more than 380,000 Australians each year with nearly 10,000 of those being melanoma, the most deadly form causing around 1,600 deaths per year, and it doesn’t matter how old you are. Your GP can check you out when you visit or you can make an appointment
Hairdressers have access to a part of your body that you don’t, and most people wouldn’t think to look at, your scalp. Just recently I noticed a “dodgy” looking mole/freckle on the scalp of a family friend and I recommended straight away for her to have it looked at, and being from the nursing world she has made an appointment to have it looked at as soon as possible. A few years ago while I was living in Melbourne one of my clients sent her new boyfriend in to have a decent haircut, the first thing I saw was a badly discoloured mole. I sent him straight to the doctor. I didn’t see him for 4 or 5 months, but when I did, he said that if he hadn’t seen the doctor straight away he would have been given 6-12 months to live. This is really serious.
So all I can do is urge you all to do is go and get checked and please don’t forget your scalp or the nape of your neck, besides that, hope you all have a really great Christmas, happy Chanukah or a joyous time whatever your religion may be, and don’t forget your sunscreen.