Skin Cancer - Causes and Care

Over some hundred thousand cases analyzed every year all over the world, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Skin cancer is a serious disease and should not be ignored. The number of cases of skin cancer is increasing rapidly every year. Over exposure to sun is the most important factor for more than 90% skin cancer cases.

Among the different types of skin cancers the malignant melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer, and the number of people falling pray to it is increasing alarmingly. In general, from the past few decades, the number of patients suffering from skin cancer has increased by leaps and bounds as compared to previously.

Skin cancer comes in many forms, 95% of which are curable if detected in early stages. Main types of skin cancers are:
1) Basal Cell: It usually begins as a non-healing scabby area that doesn’t go away. Usually slow-growing and rarely spreads to other areas of the body. This type of cancer is most common and it is also highly treatable.
2) Squamous Cell: Usually begins with a sore that never heals. It can sometimes be painful; can spread to other parts of body. If detected in early stages, it can be cured easily. This type of cancer is also highly treatable.
3) Malignant Melanoma: It looks like dark lesion; with uneven color, surface and edges. It can rise from a pre-existing mole. When caught early, it can be treated, but can kill if detected late. This type of cancer is deadliest.

In almost all type of cancers, Ultraviolet radiations play an important role. It burns our skin and slowly leads it to skin cancer if not taken care. Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun comes in three different wavelengths; UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is completely absorbed by the Ozone layer, so it does not reach the earth’s surface. For years, UVA was believed to be harmless but it can play an important role in skin cancer. Comparatively, less amount of UVB is required to cause skin damage than UVA, UVA enhances the cancer causing effects of UVB. UVA is responsible for photo aging (because of which the skin loses its smoothness and becomes dry and sagging), which leads to skin cancer.

We should try to avoid being in sun when its rays are most intense. Excessive exposure to sun causes "Photo Aging", which is premature aging of the skin. The cumulative effects of excess unprotected sun exposure weaken the skin’s elasticity, leading to sagging cheeks, deeper facial wrinkles, leathery skin and skin discoloration later on in life. We can avoid invitation to skin cancer by staying covered or avoiding exposure to sun between 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Hat to cover head, forehead and proper clothing to protect our body should be used when we go out in sun.

Sunscreen lotion should be applied 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun. The sunscreen you use should have a well defined Sun Protection Factor (SPF), which tells you how much longer the sunscreen will let you stay in the sun without getting sunburn than if you used no sunscreen. Sunscreen should be re-applied to body frequently because it may wash off when we swim, sweat or come in contact with water. Even if it is "Sweat and water resistant" or "Sweat and Water Proof", it needs to be re-applied.

If anyone has freckles or moles, they should get them checked routinely from time to time to note if they have change in shape, size or color. The change may be early sign of skin cancer. Along with this, tanning in any form is hazardous for skin and can increase skin cancer risk.

Stay away from direct sun light, tanning beds and sun lamps, which are sources of Ultraviolet rays. Everyone is at risk, individuals with fair complexions, who burn easily and never tan, have the greatest risk for developing skin cancer, but people with certain characteristics are at high risk. These risk factors include: fair to light skin complexions, family or personal history of skin cancer, constant exposure to sun, early history of sunburns, large number of moles and atypical moles, freckles.

As I stated earlier in this article, almost 95% of skin cancers are highly treatable if detected in early stage. Do take care to visit your physician or a skin specialist regularly. Skin cancers can be cured with the help of minor skin surgeries; major operations may also be required in some cases.

Lastly I would just like to reiterate, take care of yourself especially in the sun.