Skin Cancer - Symptoms and Causes of Skin Cancer
Skin Cancer - Symptoms and Causes of Skin Cancer
Our skin protects our body from injury and infection and regulates our body temperature. It is the body’s largest organ and is made up of two main layers, the outer layer called the epidermis and the inner layer called the dermis. Most of the more than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer diagnosed yearly in the United States are considered to be sun-related. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, will account for about 59,940 cases of skin cancer in 2007 and most (about 8,110) of the 10,850 deaths due to skin cancer each year.
Skin cancer — the abnormal growth of skin cells — most often develops on skin exposed to the sun. But this common form of cancer can also occur on areas of the skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight.
Skin cancers are a rapidly growing portion of all cancers diagnosed each year. It is believed that increased sun exposure and a decreased ozone layer are a major cause of this phenomenon. This guide is designed to show you the common "warning" signs of skin cancer and to show pictures of cancer and pre-cancerous skin abnormalities. It is also designed to teach you how to avoid these cancers.
Symptoms of Skin Cancer When you're in the sun to help protect the deeper layers of your skin. Extra melanin produces the darker color of tanned skin. • A small lump (spot or mole) that is shiny, waxy, pale in color, and smooth in texture. • A red lump (spot or mole) that is firm • A sore or spot that bleeds or become crusty. Also look for sores that don't heal. • Rough and scaly patches on the skin. • Flat scaly areas of the skin that are red or brown. • Any new growth that is suspicious • Change in the skin, such as a growth. • An irritation or sore that does not heal. • A change in a wart or mole.
Causes of Skin Cancer Heredity
If there is a history of skin cancer in your family, you are probably at a higher risk. People with fair skin, with a northern European heritage appear to be most susceptible. Tanning is your skin's response to UV light. It is a protective reaction to prevent further injury to your skin from the sun. However, it does not prevent skin cancer. Skin cancer may appear as a change in the skin, such as a growth, an irritation or sore that does not heal, or a change in a wart or mole. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is if you have fair skin that freckles easily, often with blue or light-colored eyes and red or blond hair.
Environment The level of UV 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 (the Ozone Hole). Ozone serves as a filter to screen out and reduce the amount of UV light that we are exposed to. With less atmospheric ozone, a higher level of UV light reaches the earth's surface.
Sun exposure is the cause of around 99% of non-melanoma skin cancers and 95% of melanoma in Australia, so it is important to adopt sun protection measures to prevent skin cancer
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