What causes skin cancer and what are the effects?
Well, I am 13, and I have gotten two severe sunburns this past month. My mom said they were pretty bad, and they can cause skin cancer in the future. Is this really true? If not what are the real causes of skin cancer? What are the effects?
Skin Cancer Causes
Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, most commonly from sunlight, is overwhelmingly the most frequent cause of skin cancer.
Other important causes of skin cancer include the following:
* Use of tanning booths
* Immunosuppression—impairment of the immune system, which protects the body from foreign entities, such as germs or substances that cause an allergic reaction. This may occur as a consequence of some diseases or can be due to medications prescribed to combat autoimmune diseases or prevent organ transplant rejection.
* Exposure to unusually high levels of x-rays
* Contact with certain chemicals—arsenic (miners, sheep shearers, and farmers), hydrocarbons in tar, oils, and soot (may cause squamous cell carcinoma)
Regarding your mother’s comment, people who had at least one severe sunburn early in life have a greater risk of developing skin cancer. Mom is right!
Treatment for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is straightforward. Usually, surgical removal of the lesion is adequate. Malignant melanoma, however, may require several treatment methods, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
How does skin cancer start out looking like?
Lately I have had little bumps not huge but like almost skin scab looking things (not scabs though). And I am in the sun doing activities a lot and I was wondering if it almost seems like it can or be a possibility of skin cancer? I’m not sure.
I think that whatever you have, you should consult the dermatologist right away. I used to work in a medical show and we featured this young guy who initially had skin cancer. Now, half of his face is gone just because he thought that what he had was a new mole. It started just like a simple dot–really like a mole– but it started growing and becoming a wound. The thing is, cancer–not just skin cancer– manifests in several ways. That same guy first thought he had skin cancer but actually, the doctors found out later that it was muscle cancer.
How high are my chances of getting skin cancer?
Yesterday I was at the pool with my friend, and she told me I have high chances of getting skin cancer. I have blond hair, blue eyes, very pale skin, I get burned easily, lots of moles and beauty marks, and I actually have a family history of cancer. She said these all made my chances higher of getting skin cancer. If so, should I use more sunscreen? What SPF? How can I help prevent skin cancer but still go outside regularly? Thanks for all of your help!
There are simple things you can do to try and protect yourself from skin cancer.
1) Wear a hat when you know you’ll be outside for longer than half an hour. It doesn’t have to be a full blown sun hat, a baseball or newsboy hat will do.
2) If you know that you’ll at the beach or the pool, make sure you apply SPF 50 sunscreen.
3) The suns UV rays are strongest the hours between 11am and 4pm.
4) Remember, concrete sand and water can reflect the suns rays, so even if you are just going to the park you can put on a little bit of sunscreen.
5) If you were make up ever day, they make foundations with SPF 15 in them.
6) Wear chap stick or put in on under any other lip products(Lip gloss, lip stick) because chap stick normally has SPF 5 in it.
7) Don’t go sun tanning or to tanning salons, because these both will increase your chances of radiation.
Related posts:
- different types of skin diseases pictures: skin cancer
- knowledge of Skin cancer
- Some pictures of skin cancer
- About ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer and how to protect your skin
- Skin neoplasm(cancer of skin): symptoms and pictures
- Skin Cancer Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention and Diagnosis
