Skcin, the national skin cancer charity, is launching a regional awareness initiative this summer across Norfolk and Skin Awareness Week will start next Monday, June 22.

Skcin, the national skin cancer charity, is launching a regional awareness initiative this summer across Norfolk and Skin Awareness Week will start next Monday, June 22.

During this week free skin checks will be offered in Norwich where people can drop in to get any unusual marks, patches of sun damaged skin or blemishes of concern checked by dermatology specialists. The Norwich skin check station will be outside The Forum between 10am - 4pm from 22nd - 24th June.

For people living in Norfolk and Suffolk, the lifestyle of working outside or perhaps just regularly enjoying the lure of the coastline during Summer months is likely to have led to over-exposure to the sun and repeated incidents of sunburn, which can contribute to an increased risk of skin cancer in later life.

GP Rob Hicks, who is supporting Skin Awareness Week, said: “With Norfolk's vast coastline and percentage of outdoor workers it's important that we help to spread awareness of the dangers of long term exposure to the sun and encourage people to check their skin as well as use sun protection.

“We hope that the drop in centres will encourage people to get any areas of concern checked and if we uncover just one or two cases which need further attention, Skin Awareness Week will have been a success”.

For more information visit www.skcin.org and www.sundamagedskin.co.uk.