A community pharmacy is often the first port of call for people who are concerned about suspicious lesions on their skin, so it is important to be able to advise on the best course of action.

In the UK each year, there are around 16,000 new melanomas and 150,000 non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) diagnosed – of which about 75 per cent are basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and 25 per cent squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). NMSCs are most common in older age groups, typically those over 70 years of age.

Actinic keratoses (AKs), which are small, dry, rough spots of skin, are very common. In the UK, 19-24 per cent of those over 60 years of age have at least one AK, and the prevalence increases steadily with age. AKs are managed with a number of topical agents, which bring their own demand for support and advice.