As a part of May: Melanoma Awareness Month, developed in Ireland by La Roche-Posay in 2008 with the support of the Irish Cancer Society, La Roche-Posay launch SOS Save Our Skin. This public awareness campaign works to address the increasing problem of skin cancer in Ireland. This campaign is supported by the Department of Health and the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly will officially launch the campaign on April 28th 2011.
Did you know?*
- The most common cancer in Ireland is skin cancer with just over 8000 new cases diagnosed in 2008.
- 90% of all skin cancers are preventable. Virtually all the risk comes from the sun and sun beds**
- we receive Up to 80% of our sun damage before the age of 20, so protection in children is vital**
- In Ireland, 1 in every 8 men and 1 in every 10 women will develop skin cancer by the age of 74 years**
- 66% of Irish people have a higher risk of developing Skin Cancer because of their skin type **
*NCRI **www.cancer.ie/sunsmart
Melanoma Awareness Month is a global initiative to promote the early detection and prevention of skin cancer. In Ireland, La Roche-Posay is driving the month long awareness campaign for the fourth year running, alongside the Irish Cancer Society, as well as the Melanoma Trust².
This year, the new look campaign will be called SOS Save Our Skin, to highlight the severity and urgency of the cause. It is a nationwide effort being promoted in Dermatologists rooms, Dermatology departments, GP surgeries, pharmacies and social media encouraging members of the public to get their moles/suspicious legions checked and adopt safe behaviour in the sun.
SOS Save Our Skin is a month long drive to raise awareness and to prevent the increasing problem of skin cancer in Ireland. Research has indicated that Melanoma will continue to rapidly rise in Ireland and we could see a trebling of malignant melanoma rates over the next 30 years* with people being diagnosed at a progressively younger age. These committed parties together with the backing of the Department of Health, could help to prevent these increased figures.
– SAVE OUR SKIN –
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-Posay³ 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 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 May Melanoma Awareness Month in Ireland and together with the support of the Irish Cancer Society and the Melanoma Trust¹ the campaign grows each year to raise awareness and to help prevent increasing cases of skin cancer in Ireland.
1. The Sharon Rice O’Beirne Melanoma Trust was set up in memory of Sharon, who on the 2nd of February 2008 lost her brave battle against Melanoma Skin Cancer. The aim of the Trust is to bring about an awareness of this potentially fatal disease and to help fund Irish research in this particular area. Sharon’s great strength and positive attitude throughout her illness has encouraged her family & friends to try and promote awareness of this devastating disease to more people who are potentially at risk.
2. La Roche-Posay’s sun protection range, Anthelios, provides unparalleled effectiveness and dermatological tolerance to protect against cell damage caused by UV rays offering the most effective sun protection on the market. Anthelios XL filtering system has the highest level of UVA protection available of the market. It has a UVA protection level of PPD42, 12 points higher than the previous formula. La Roche-Posay, the brand of choice of 25,000 dermatologists worldwide, has demonstrated its efficacy of Anthelios XL via 21 clinical studies (4 in vitro and 17 in vivo). The in vivo clinical studies were carried out on patients suffering from sun intolerance reactions, particularly those caused by UVA rays. Anthelios filtering system ensures efficient protection against the entire spectrum of UVB-UVA rays; whatever their intensity.
La Roche-Posay further demonstrates its commitment to sun protection and sun education by donating €1 to the Irish Cancer Society for every purchase of Anthelios Fluid Extreme 50+ in 2011.