Skin Cancer is the most common type of cancer. It occurs when skin cells grow abnormally and uncontrollably. The skin is the body’s most exposed organ, primarily responsible for protection. The changes in the climate also present many more ways of getting skin cancer than the common one attributed to the sun. Skin cancer can be caused by prolonged exposure of the skin to ultraviolet rays of the sun or artificial tanners.
Over the years, skin cancer has ranked as the second most prevalent type of cancers diagnosed to patients in hospitals. Nevertheless, it is also observed that the rates in population cancer registries remain high.
Knowing and putting into consideration the limited and harmful exposure to sunlight through actions such as the application of sunscreen would greatly help reduce incidences of skin cancer and at the same time improve the cosmetic of one’s skin. This therefore calls for the need to understand in a more broad context the main aspects related to the skin cancer aetiology and why oriented towards sun protection and its maintenance practices, excessive exposure is undesirable.
Understanding Skin Cancer: Causes and Risks
The main factor leading to skin cancer is excessive exposure to UV rays. Such exposure causes damage to the DNA of skin cells prompting the occurrence of uncontrolled divisions in the cells.
Types of Skin cancer
Melanoma Skin Cancer
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. It is the most rapidly spreading of all skin cancers. Delays in diagnosis and treatment can increase the risk of melanoma spreading to distant parts of the body.
Melanoma is caused by the degeneration of melanocytes, the cells that produce skin pigment. It often appears as a dark mole that has changed in shape, size, or color.
Types of Melanoma
- Superficial spreading
- Nodular
- Lentigo maligna
- Acral lentiginous
Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
Non-melanoma skin cancer is a common type of skin cancer that, unlike melanoma, does not spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) as easily. While less aggressive than melanoma, it can still cause serious health problems if left untreated.
Types of Non-melanoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Sebaceous gland carcinoma
- Other types of non-melanoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
BCC is the common skin cancer. BCC are slow growing types of skin cancers which rarely metastasize. Additionally, many secondary lesions may occur in the untreated situation. Generally, BCC forms as a smooth pearly dome-shaped growth on the face and neck or any other sun-exposed part of the body.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
This skin cancer is equally common as basal cell carcinoma and has the second highest rate of spreading to other parts of the body. However, it is known to grow slowly and form lesions, with limited metastatic spread. Typically, it appears as a scaly red patch or nodule on sun-exposed skin, especially the face, arms, and hands.
UV Radiation
These include the artificial and the natural solar ultraviolet rays that include UVA and B rays which are responsible for nearly all the cases of skin cancers. Sunburn and damage to the surface layers of the skin are primarily associated with skin UVB rays. Skin ageing through wrinkling is mainly caused by the UVA rays which penetrate the skin more so than the UVB rays. Prolonged usage of either of these rays will ultimately result in increased cell mutation risks as there is DNA damage accumulated over the years. Thus cancerous growths become more probable.
High-Risk Groupshttps://edicines.com/improve-lung-health/
Certain individuals are at greater risk of developing skin cancer. Those with fair skin that burns easily, a family history of skin cancer, or a personal history of excessive sun exposure or frequent sunburns are more susceptible. People with many moles or unusual skin markings should also take extra precautions, as they are at higher risk for melanoma. Additionally, persons who work in open-air environments or those residing in sunny areas should also watch their exposure to the sun.
Also Read: How to Improve Lung Health: Tips to Reduce the Risk of Respiratory Issues
Importance of Sun Protection
Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer
Constant and irrational interaction with sun rays, without sunscreen application or any other form of protection, considerably raises the chances of skin cancer. Universally characterised daily exposure is, more often than not, a leading cause of skin cancer. In particular, this manifests as an increased risk in developing some form of skin cancer with each sunburn, considering that skin damage tends to accrue because of the UV rays over the course of a lifetime.
Impact of Daily Sun Habits
One of the easiest and effective ways to maintain your skin is by inscribing sun safe practices within your daily routine. This could be through regular application of sunscreens, putting on protective apparels, or finding shelter from the sun, all contribute in not only lessening the effects of the sun on the skin but also reducing the chances of one getting skin cancer. The use of such mechanisms of protection from the rays of the sun should be regarded as something which should be practised throughout a person’s life starting from the early years of a person’s development.
Effective Sun Safety Tips
a. Apply Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen
The application of broad-spectrum sunscreen is among the best weapons against the incidence of skin cancer.
Here is why it is important:
Broad-Spectrum Coverage
Broad spectrum sunscreen prevents sun UVA and UVB rays thus it is complete protection. UVA rays make the skin age faster while UVB rays are responsible for causing sunburns. Both rays promote skin cancer therefore, it is important to prevent both.
Sun Protection Factor
For average everyday use, it is suggested that people wear sunscreen degrees of at least SPF 30. However, while engaging in outdoor activities where there is prolonged exposure to the sun, it is advisable to use a higher SPF of 50 and above for extra coverage.
Effective Use
Use sunscreen lotion 15-30 minutes prior to sun exposure and make sure that all exposed skin is covered. Make sure to use enough of the product to provide the protection stated on the label. Sunscreen should be re-applied every two hours and even after swimming or sweating, since the water and sweat will make the sunscreen run.
b. Apply Sun Protective Clothing
Skin serves as the first line of defence against the sun’s rays, as they can penetrate through clothing.
Shirts With Long Sleeves And A Wide Brimmed Hat
Such garments encompass a large area of skin especially parts which are normally unprotected by sunscreen. An inner hat prevents sunlight from reaching one’s face neck and ears while long sleeves cover the arms and block direct sunlight.
UV-Blocking Sunglasses
The eyes as well as the skin around them are generally exposed to the harmful rays of the sun which can cause irreversible damage. Hence it is advisable to wear UV blocking sunglasses in this area to avoid too much damage and avoid getting cataracts from the UV radiation.
Clothing with UPF rating
Lean towards fabrics with a UPF rating, which refers to the level of ultraviolet protection provided by the fabric. For example, a UPF 50 rated clothing prevents 98% of the ultraviolet rays. This is rather efficacious for people who are outdoors for long periods.
c. Seek Shade During Peak Sun Hours
The “sun safety hours” vary from one continent to another. However, this period falls between 10 AM and 4 PM, and generally it is associated with an increased level of harmful solar ultraviolet radiation.
Avoid Activities That Involve Spending Time in Suncast: If possible, avoid being in the sun during the das s hottest parts. All other outdoor activities should be scheduled in either early morning or late afternoon hours when the sun is not that high.
Make Use of Shade: Wherever you go outside during those hours, make sure that you are under trees, umbrellas, or any other structures. This reduces the amount of the sun’s rays that reach the skin and protects the skin from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
Additional Options: For those who wish to participate in activities that will take place outdoors during the hot sun, there is an option of relaxing in shaded areas such as in parks or swimming under shaded cabanas.
d. Avoid tanning beds
Without a doubt artificial tanning does introduce a lot of health risks which leads to skin cancer. This is attributed to the fact that the tanning beds focus on ultraviolet rays which burn out the skin thereby enhancing wrinkle formation.
Tanning Beds Effects: Tanning booths such as Dolly have been shown to elevate the risk for both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Those who use such beds on a frequent basis are at an even higher risk.
Less Dangerous Solutions: As most people would wish to appear sun – tanned, use self tanning or self bronzing lotions and sprays which are less harmful. These do provide a tan albeit for a few hours and do not necessitate the exposure of the skin to harmful ultraviolet rays.
Checking Your Skin Regularly
Regular self-examinations is one of the self-care practice in order to enable preventive measures against the rising disease of skin cancer with a positive prognosis.
Self-Examinations: A good practice is to examine one’s own skin every month for any new moles, blemishes or growths. Changes in existing moles such as new size, shape or even colour changes should also be investigated. A towel can be used to cover the areas that can be difficult to see in front of a mirror as well as the back and sides of a person. Also, commonly missed areas such as the head and neck, bottoms of the feet and between the toes should also be inspected.
Spotting Suspicious Changes: Use the following ABCDE acronym as a guide to recognize abnormal moles that may be cancerous.
Asymmetry: Two sides of the mole are not the same.
Border: The borders are uneven and not smooth.
Colour: The mole has more than one colour and shades.
Diameter: The mole exceeds the size of a pencil eraser approximately 6mm.
Evolving: The mole is actively titling itself towards one side, sculpting a three-dimensional formation with a tag team effort with its colouring.
When to Seek Help: Do not hesitate to see your dermatologist if you experience any of these troubling alterations on your skin.
Additional Tips for Year-Round Sun Protection
Protection against sunlight is very critical not only in summer but all seasons.
Managing Seasons: UV rays are available even in winter and so they are present all year round. Snow and water can cause more UV rays by reflecting the rays back. Even on dull days, clouds can let in about 80% of the UV rays so it is very import to adhere to the sun protection every day.
Regular Sun Behaviour: Practising sun care behaviours and extreme ages, such as sunscreen use every day, wearing protective women’s clothing and seeking shade will prevent the skin from sustaining further damage over the years.
Conclusion
The first step in lowering your skin cancer risk is to cultivate healthy habits concerning the sun. There are many options available, like the application of broad spectrum sunscreen, the use of sun protective measures including clothing, avoidance of direct sun at certain times and tanning beds, in order to reduce skin damage and cancer risk.
In addition, it’s important to perform routine skin checks for any atypical changes because it is much easier to treat them at the early stages. Finally, the observance of sun safety measures all year round ensures protective benefits over time. Protect your skin today to safeguard your health for the future.
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