How to prevent skin cancer?
CANCER, well you all might have seen someone or the other close to you or around you suffering from cancer right? And that might have terrified you because of how dangerous that disease can be. CANCER, although just a six letter word, has a lot of negative impact on the minds of the people, because of the fact that one can hardly see anyone getting recovered from cancer and living a happy life, because what most of the times we see is cancer leading to the death of our loved ones. Thus, one can see that a lot of awareness has been rising against cancer, it’s symptoms, types and treatment so that people don’t have to lose their loved ones to a deadly disease yet again.
And today we are going to talk about one such cancer and how to identify it, and it is none other than Skin Cancer, one of the most common types of Skin Cancer. So in today’s article we are going to see what is cancer, skin cancer and most importantly how to identify skin cancer?
What is cancer?
Cancer is a type of disease in which some of the body’s cells grow crazily and outspreads to other parts of the body.
Cancer can develop anywhere and everywhere in the human body, which is made up of billions & billions of cells. Usually, human cells grow and multiply (through a process known as cell division) to form new cells as it the necessity of the body. When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells appear in place of the old ones.
However once in a while this orderly procedure breaks down, and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply in a crazy manner when they shouldn’t. And these abnormal or damaged cells may form tumours, (Tumours are nothing but lumps of tissues). Although Tumours can either be cancerous or non - cancerous (also known as benign).
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin Cancer is nothing but the abnormal growth of the skin cells and most often develops on the skin that is most exposed in the sunlight. But that doesn’t mean that one can be affected by skin cancer on the areas not exposed to the sun. There are three main types of Skin Cancer and they are as follows:
Basal cell carcinoma,
Squamous cell carcinoma and
Melanoma
And they have got their names from the different layers of the skin, meaning the layer of the skin where the cancer cells grow or develop.
Where Skin Cancer develops?
Skin cancer develops essentially on areas of the skin that is exposed to the sun, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. But it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day —one’s palms, beneath their fingernails or toenails, and their genital area.
Skin cancer affects people of all skin types, including those with dark skin. If melanoma occurs in people with dark skin, it is more likely to occur in areas exposed to the sun, such as the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.
Where does Skin Cancer Start?
Most skin cancers start in the upper layer of the skin, called the epidermis. There are 3 main types of cells in the epidermis:
• Squamous cells: Squamous cells are flat cells in the upper (outer) part of the epidermis, which constantly break down as new ones form. When these cells grow out of control, they can develop into squamous cell carcinoma (also called squamous cell carcinoma).
• Basal cells: Basal cells are located at the base of the epidermis, called the basal cell layer. These cells constantly divide to form a new cell and replace the aging squamous cells on the surface of the skin. As these cells grow in the epidermis, they become flattering, thus becoming squamous cells. Skin cancer that starts in the basal cell layer is called basal cell cancer or basal cell carcinomas.
• Melanocytes: Melanocytes are cells that form a brown pigment called melanin, which causes the skin to darken or turn brown. Melanin acts as a natural sunscreen for the body, protecting the deeper layers of the skin from some of the harmful effects of the sun. Melanoma skin cancer starts in these cells.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Skin Cancer?
Although Skin Cancer itself is one of the most common types of cancer, we still have different types of skin cancer and, let's take a look at which type of skin cancer is most common.
Of all the different types of skin cancer, Basal and squamous cell cancer are the most common types of skin cancer. They usually start on the upper layer of the skin (known as the epidermis), and are usually caused by exposure to the sun.
Now, that we know about the basics of cancer and skin cancer, as to what it is, how it develops, where it develops and what are some of the most common types of Skin Cancer, let’s have a quick look at some of the most common and easy preventions that can be practiced in order to avoid getting affected by Skin Cancer.
And below mentioned techniques are recommend by the Skin Cancer Foundation:
Look for shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Do not get sunburned.
Avoid sunburn, and never use UV exposure beds.
Cover with a blanket, including a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that protect against UV.
Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen (UVA / UVB) with an SPF of 15 or higher daily.
For extended outdoor activity, use a waterproof, wide-screen (UVA / UVB) screen with 30 or more SPF.
Apply an ounce (two tablespoons) of sunscreen all over your body for 30 minutes before going out.
Apply every two hours or after swimming or sweating profusely.
Find sun protection by searching for our Recommended Products.
Keep new born out of the sun.
Use sunscreen for children over six months.
Wear sunscreen, such as a long-sleeved shirt, trousers, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that protect against UV, if possible.
For effective sun protection, choose clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) label.
Use extra caution near water, ice, and sand, as exposure to harmful sunlight can increase your chances of sunburn.
Avoid slippery beds. Ultraviolet light from bed sheets can cause skin cancer and premature aging of the skin.
Consider using a self-adhesive product if you want to look darker, but keep using a sunscreen.
Check your head-to-toe skin every month.
See a dermatologist at least once a year for a qualified skin test.
Thus, the above mentioned techniques are some of the most common ways to prevent skin cancer, although there is no guarantee for it because like I always say, everyone’s body type is different and everything doesn’t suit for everyone. So what is the best solution in this case is to maintain and take precautions as much as possible, and the rest depends on the X factor.
But yes, what is important to keep in mind is that, UV rays are harmful for our skin, and that is why we should always try to apply sunscreen whenever we go out, even on rainy days, because even on rainy days, there is sunlight even though if not visible with our naked eyes.
Ref: Skin cancer - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Skin Cancer Prevention - The Skin Cancer Foundation