TV doctors to give free skin checks at WestQuay (From Daily Echo)

Embarrassing Bodies docs to encourage shoppers to be skin aware

8:29am Friday 18th June 2010 in News By Clare Kennedy, Health Reporter

Dr Dawn Harper (left) and Dr Pixie McKenna

VISITORS to Southampton’s WestQuay will be able to get their skin checked for early signs of sun damage during free one-to-one consultations.

The Skin Check pod will be at the shopping centre’s lower level next Monday and Tuesday from 10am until 4pm.

Among those offering the checks will be Dr Pixie McKenna and Dr Dawn Harper from Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies series.

The two-day event is mainly aimed at those over the age of 45 who may have a history of over exposure to the sun or repeated incidents of sunburn.

City public health boss Dr Andrew Mortimore said: “We are very fortunate to have many reasons to spend time outside in the Southampton area with so many parks and good access to local beaches.

“However, its important that people who spend a lot of time outdoors are sun safe and skin aware, checking for signs of sun damage and getting any changes checked by their GP.”

Solar keratosis is the most common skin condition that occurs as a result of sun damage and in some cases can be an early sign of skin cancer.

The Skin Check pod is being held to coincide with Skin Awareness Week, organised by the Myfanwy Townsend Melanoma Research Fund.

Charity founder Harry Townsend said: “This campaign is about reinforcing the safe sun message, but also encouraging the vast numbers of people for whom the damage may have already been done to be more skin aware.

“Rates of skin cancer have doubled in the past 15 years and so we’re urging people to take note of changes in their skin, or the appearance of strange lesions, and seek advice before any marks develop into skin cancer.”