WHO COMES TO SKIN CHECKS

Aim. To examine the characteristics of persons attending skin checks c arried out by the Cancer Society of New Zealand. Methods. Persons aged 20 years or over attending three skin checks open to the public in th e Taranaki region in the summer of 1991-2 were surveyed regarding the presence of risk factors for melanoma and reasons for attending the sk in check. Results. Overall, more women (n=159) than men (n=120) attend ed the clinics. Questionnaire results were available for 197 of those attending (110 women and 87 men). The average age of the sample was 49 .4 years; 99% were from a European background. Forty percent of the sa mple had two or more of the following risk factors for melanoma: sun-s ensitive skin, history of severe burning, red or fair hair, being trea ted for a skin cancer, and a family history of skin cancer. Fifty-one percent reported at least one change in a mole over the last 12 months , and 42% gave the presence of a worrying mark on their skin as a reas on for coming. Conclusion. Those who attended the skin checks were lik ely to be at increased risk of skin cancer compared to the general pop ulation, and more often came because of a specific skin lesion than fo r a general skin check.