Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer is a disease in which the cancer cells or malignant cells are found in the outer layers of the skin. Normally, the skin protects the body against heat, light, injury and infection. Skin also helps in storage of water, fat and vitamin D.

Causes of Skin Cancer

(1) Heredity: It plays an important role in the development of skin cancer in the family, then those people are at higher risk of developing skin cancer. People who have fair skin are most likely to develop the cancer.

(2) usually, sunburn and ultraviolet light can cause damage to the skin and this damage can lead to the development of skin cancer. Tanning is generally the skin’s response to ultraviolet light. It is a protective reaction of prevent injury to the skin from the sun. but it does not prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer develops very slowly. If a person develops sunburn this week then it may take 20 years or more to become skin cancer.

(3) Environmental factors also plays an important role in the development of skin cancer. The level of ultraviolet light today is higher than it was 50 or 100 years ago. This is due to a reduction of ozone in the earth’s atmosphere. Ozone serves as a filter to screen out and reduce the amount of ultraviolet light that a person is exposed to. With less atmospheric ozone, light reaches the earth’s surface.

(4) Other influencing factors include elevation, latitude and cloud cover. Ultraviolet increases. The thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes cannot filter ultraviolet as effectively as it can a sea level. The rays of the sun are also strongest near the equator.

Types of Skin Cancer

There are three types of Skin Cancers, that is (a) Basal Cell Carcinoma (B) Squamous Cell Carcinoma (C) Malignant Melanoma.

Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinoma:

These type of skin cancers are more common is people with light coloured skin who sponts a lot of time in the sunlight Skin Cancer, can occur anywhere in the body but it is commonly seen in places that have been exposed to more sunlight, such as face, neck, hands and arms. The skin cancer can look in many different sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin such as growth or a sore that won’t heal. There may also be a small lump which can be smooth, shiny and waxy looking. Skin Cancer may also appear as a flat red spot that is red or scaly.

Melanoma: It is a disease of the skin in which cancer or malignant cells are found in the cells that colour the skin that is melanocytes. Melanoma is the more serious type of the caner. It usually occurs in adults, but it may rarely be found in children and adolescents.

Treatment of Skin Cancer

Melanoma is best treated if it is diagnosed early. It can spread quickly to other parts of the body through the lymph system or through the body. If there is any signs of warning like bleeding from a mole or if a mole feels itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen or tender to the touch. In case of any such signs, immediate visit to the doctor should be made.

And if the mole or pigmented area doesn’t look normal, then doctor will cut it out known as local excision and he will see it under the microscope to see if it contains cancer. But care should be taken that, biopsy should be done correctly. In order to prevent skin cancer, the person should apply sunscreen to all areas of the body which are exposed to the sun.

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