Dr. Rosemary Coleman

And if your GP is not happy to reassure you, they will refer you.

It can look very banal.

It can be just like a small little red spot on your arm that you just say, oh, I didn't notice that.

Don't ignore it.

That can be an amelanotic melanoma.

It doesn't have to look dramatic.

But yes, Clare, of course, it starts with protect your skin with clothing, avoid the midday sun.

Don't be looking at UV indices.

Just assume that when you go out and there's daylight, there is UV, you can get damaged.

That's what we spend five to seven years studying, how to distinguish.

And

When we're happy to reassure, we'll use special magnifying glasses and dermoscopes to look at the pigment pattern.

The big thing, the difference between a dermatologist and a lot of other doctors is we try to preserve skin.

We try to not take things off that are totally harmless and to not create scars and anxiety.

So our aim is tissue preservation.

So the important thing there is if that patient person thinks that they have a new anything, a new age spot,

With all due respect, they're not qualified to diagnose that any more than I'm qualified to work in their area.

So they need to go to the GP.

And if the GP feels it's atypical or they're not sure, they will refer them.

OK, but age spots are a thing that you will see as you get older.