AN AESTHETICS clinic in Andover has launched a competition for children to raise awareness of keeping safe in the sun.

Dr Malaika Clinics in Lords Way, East Anton, has announced its Sun Safety for Kids campaign and is looking for kids to submit their version of what they think it means to be sun smart.

Dr Malaika Smith, who runs the clinic, said she has the support SKCIN charity and organisation like Heliocare and Solarbuddie for the campaign.

She said: “Children’s skin is so much more vulnerable to the damage of UV, and sunburn in childhood is strongly linked to the development of melanoma in later life.

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“With around 90 per cent of all cases being preventable, education and awareness is key.

Treatment for skin cancer alone is predicted to cost the NHS £500m a year by 2025, and the increase in cases of the disease is testing the capacity of dermatology departments to their limits.”

In May, the clinic ran a campaign for skin cancer awareness month by offering free mole checks.

Dr Smith said: “This proved really popular as people often struggle to get seen by their GPs, and 20 per cent of everyone who came to see me, were referred to their GP for further investigation.

“Two of those have been in touch and told me they were immediately referred on to a dermatologist for biopsy.

“It was really rewarding giving something back to the community and I want to extend this further by raising awareness for keeping children safe in the sun this summer holiday.”

For the Sun Safety for Kids campaign, kids are asked to submit their version of what they think it means to be sun smart. The winning prizes include a superstars board game, George the sun safe superstar book, sunscreen applicator and clip, buddie bag, 360° water bottle, 360° summer bag, 360° Paediatrics Sunscreen and UV-Buddy bag charm/bracelet.

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There will also be four runners up prizes who will get a  360° water bottle, 360° summer bag and UV-Buddy bag charm. You can email the submissions to info@drmalaikaclinics.co.uk, with the child’s name and age. 
The competition will close on Monday, August 8, 2022.

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