Warning signs of skin cancer as Netflix star diagnosed at age 26

Netflix's Too Hot To Handle star Harry Jowsey has opened up about his skin cancer diagnosis, at the age of 26. The reality star gave a heartfelt message to fans over the weekend, urging people to wear sunscreen.

Taking to TikTok, Harry explained the cancer was found on his shoulder, where it had been for a year or two. But, he insisted he had “no idea”.

He assured his fans he was “going to be all good." However, he wanted to share the news in the hopes of ‘saving’ and ‘protecting’ people who may be worried about the same thing.

He said: “There isn't really an easy way to say this, but last week I went to a dermatologist to get my skin checked and they found some skin cancer on me. I'm going to be all good, everything's going to be ok."

The TV personality explained he was sharing his diagnosis to urge fans to wear sunscreen more. He also encouraged anyone worried about skin cancer to visit their doctor or dermatologist to check for any signs.

He continued: “If you're a freckly little frog like me, go get a mole map and get your body checked, because you never know. I had this on my shoulder for like a year or two, I had no idea. Go get your skin checked, wear your sunscreen and be a little bit more responsible because that's what I've got to do now, and it's very scary.”

Australian-born Harry has been based in the US for a number of years. He appeared on Netflix’s Too Hot To Handle in 2020, before appearing on the US TV programme Dancing With The Stars in 2023.

Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun. This may be due to long term exposure, or short periods of intense sun exposure and burning.

There are several factors that affect your risk from sun exposure including how much time you spend outdoors, and your natural skin colour. There are two main types of skin cancer: non melanoma skin cancer and melanoma skin cancer.

Non melanoma skin cancer symptoms

Skin cancers can appear different, meaning the symptoms can vary. The most common symptoms of non melanoma skin cancer include a sore or an area of skin which doesn’t heal within four weeks, looks ‘unusual’, and either hurts, becomes itchy, bleeds or scabs for more than four weeks.

Cancer Research UK explained the visible signs of non melanoma skin cancer to look out for. This includes:

• A sore that doesn't heal - This can be a sore which looks see through, shiny and pink or pearly white. It can also look red. It may feel sore, rough and have raised edges.

• Ulcer - Look out for an area of skin that has broken down (an ulcer) and doesn't heal within four weeks, and you can't think of a reason for this change.

• A lump - This might be small, slow growing, shiny and pink or red.

• Red patches on your skin - These red patches could also be itchy. This could be due to other non cancerous skin conditions.

• Freckles or moles - A change to a mole or freckle can be a sign of another type of skin cancer called melanoma..

Symptoms of melanoma skin cancer

Some types of melanoma can develop from moles you already have. Others grow on what was normal skin.

Cancer Research UK advises visiting a doctor if you notice any new abnormal moles, a mole which seems to be growing or changing, or a change to a previously normal patch of skin.

To help identify skin cancer, doctors use a checklist which explains some of the signs of melanoma to look out for, known as the ABCDE list.

• A - asymmetrical - This refers to the shape of the mole or abnormal patch of skin. Melanomas are likely to have an uneven shape. The two halves may be different shapes or sizes (asymmetrical).

• B - border - This refers to the edges of the mole or abnormal patch of skin. Melanomas are more likely to have irregular edges (border) that are blurry or jagged.

• C - colour - This refers to the colour of the mole or abnormal patch of skin. Melanomas are often an uneven colour and contain more than one shade. A melanoma might have different shades of black, brown and pink.

• D - diameter - This refers to how wide the mole or abnormal patch of skin is. Most melanomas are more than six mm wide. But they can be smaller if diagnosed early.

• E - evolving - Evolving means changing. Melanomas might change in size, shape or colour. Or you might notice other changes such as: bleeding, itching, a change in sensation to a mole or area of abnormal skin, or a mole becoming crusty.

Most melanomas don’t give you symptoms like pain or itching, and some non cancerous (benign) moles or abnormal patches of skin can be itchy. So having some of these changes on their own doesn't mean you definitely have melanoma.

It’s important to remember that melanomas can look different for people with different skin colours, so for people with brown or black skin it may be more difficult to spot. A mole or abnormal patch of skin may:

• not show any of the ABCD signs

• be symmetrical

• be broken and sore (ulcerated)

• be a pink colour

• be under a finger or toe nail

• be on the palm of the hand or sole of the foot