With skin cancer being one of the leading causes of death, it is time to start finding out how to care for and prevent more skin damage. There are several types of skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Because risk factors can be anything that increase one's chance of developing cancer, it is a difficult task trying to protect oneself. However, the best way to prevent skin cancer is to educate oneself and be vigilant in those endeavors.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer and is most prevalent in Caucasians. This type of skin cancer appears as nodules, or as red, scaly patches of skin and can usually be found on the rim of the ear, face, lips, and mouth. This type can spread to other parts of the body as well. Squamous cell carcinoma, if detected in a timely fashion and properly treated, has a 95% cure rate.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer in the United States. It is responsible for more than 90% of all sun cancers. This type of skin cancer is almost most common among Caucasians. Basal cell carcinoma shows up as small, fleshy bump or nodules on the head, neck, or hands but can also show up on the trunk of the body as flat growths. This type of skin cancer is easily detected and if properly treated has a 95% cure rate.
Melanoma the Most Dangerous Skin Cancer
Melanoma is a disease of the skin in which cancer cells are found in the melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce color in the skin or pigment known as melanin. This type of skin cancer is found mostly in adults but can be seen in children and adolescents as well. Melanoma is the rarest form of skin cancer and is the most serious. Melanoma is responsible for 75% of all deaths from skin cancer. Symptoms of melanoma are a change in the size, shape, or color of a mole, oozing or bleeding from a mole, or a mole that feels itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen, or tender to the touch.
Protective Factors for Preventing Skin Cancer
Protective factors are anything that decreases one’s chance of developing cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends wearing protective clothing as well as a hat with at least a four-inch brim. They also recommend applying sunscreen all over the body while avoiding the sun during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least a SPF of 15 or higher every day, even on cloudy days, will help tremendously in the prevention of skin cancer.
The AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation have teamed up and formed a list of six steps to reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer. The first step recommends staying out of direct sunlight during of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Steps two and three are applying sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays on all parts of the body that are exposed to the sun, and then reapplying sunscreen every two hours and after swimming and perspiring, even on cloudy days. The fourth step is to wear clothing that covers the body, hats that protect both the face and the neck, and sunglasses that filter out 80% of harmful rays. The fifth step is to avoid the use of tanning beds and tanning parlors. The sixth and final step is to protect children by keeping them from excessive sunlight. By following all the steps one should be able to keep children from being burned and hopefully from getting skin cancer later in life.
By taking a proactive approach towards skin care, one can easily reduce the chances of severe sunburns. The prolonged exposure to the sun is a huge factor in causing skin cancer. By reducing the amount of harm done to one’s skin they reduce the chances of having to deal with skin cancer later in life.
Lara Johns - My name is Lara Johns. I graduated with a BA in English from West Texas A&M University. I also write articles for Associated ...
