Did you know that skin cancer is the most frequent form of cancer in the United States, affecting an estimated one in every five people who live in the country during the course of their lifetime? Cancer of the skin is caused by the unchecked proliferation of abnormal cells right in the epidermis, which is actually the higher layer of the skin. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, which may be harmful to DNA, is the primary factor in the development of this illness. It is in your best interest to educate yourself about skin cancer in the event that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with this ailment.
Continue reading down below.
What Are the Different Types of Skin Cancer?
According to the SCF (Skin Cancer Foundation), the four most common forms of skin cancer are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Melanoma is indeed the worst form of skin cancer. Because sun exposure and the use of tanning beds are key risk factors in the development of skin cancer, one of the malignancies that is one of the most easily treatable is skin cancer.
What Could Be the Factors?
According to the American Cancer Society, the most prevalent risk factors for skin cancer might vary; however, the following are some of them:
- Having a climate that is either sunny or has a high altitude.
- Moles in an abnormally high number.
- Fair complexion. This is due to the fact that darker skin includes a higher concentration of the pigment melanin, which serves as a natural shield against the sun’s rays.
- A compromised immune system, such as that found in individuals infected with HIV or AIDS or those who are on immunosuppressant medication and have had organ transplantation.
- Tobacco use. Smoking may raise one’s chance of developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
- Lesions on the skin that are precancerous.
What Exactly Causes Skin Cancer?
As was said before, the vast majority of cases of skin cancer are brought on by exposure to UV rays, which causes DNA damage in skin cells. According to a review that was published in the International Journal of Dermatology in 2010, ultraviolet radiation can lead to cancer if it induces mutations in genes that govern the proliferation of skin cells, genes that are involved in tumor suppression, or genes that are involved in DNA repair. Tannin booths and lamps, often known as sunbeds, are examples of tanning equipment that emits UV radiation and should be avoided. In certain instances, the UV radiation emitted by such apparatus may be more intense than that of the sun.
How is Skin Cancer Diagnosed?
A skin exam is the first thing that has to be done in order to diagnose skin cancer. A medical professional has to examine any areas of the skin that resemble any of the four different forms of skin cancer, as well as any moles that experience a sudden or unexpected change in color, shape, or size. If the physician notices something out of the ordinary, you’ll have removed a tiny bit of the whole area and then taken it to a laboratory for examination. If there is cancer present, the kind of malignancy will be determined by this biopsy.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) put together an easy way to remember the signs of skin cancer by using the acronym “ABCDE,” which refers to:
Asymmetrical: An uneven wound on the skin has an uneven profile.
Border: A growth on the skin will have a rough or uneven border.
Color: The skin lesion exhibits a mottled or multicolored appearance due to its irregular coloring.
Diameter: Lesions on the skin that are smaller than the size of a pea are less likely to be malignant than those that are greater in size.
Enlarging: The skin lesion has grown more noticeable or developed over the course of the last several weeks or months.
The Treatment of Skin Cancer
Skin cancers that are not melanoma might not need any kind of therapy other than having the affected area surgically removed. However, various therapies for skin cancer are dependent not only on the size of the lesions but also their locations and, of course, their depth. The following are some of the most frequent treatments for skin cancer:
- Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that makes use of medications to boost the body’s immune system in order to eliminate aberrant cells. Some persons who suffer from advanced basal or squamous cell skin cancer may benefit from using this treatment.
- Laser surgery refers to the practice of removing tissue with the use of a laser beam instead of a traditional scalpel.
- Freezing tissue is an intriguing procedure with liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide (cryosurgery).
- Chemical peels are procedures that are performed on the skin to remove aberrant cells. Actinic keratosis is commonly treated with this method.
- Chemotherapy can be given topically to the skin in the form of creams or lotions for less severe forms of cancer.
- Radiation treatment is frequently used in situations where surgery is not an option.
The most important thing you can do to reduce your chance of developing any kind of skin cancer is to actually spend less of your time in the sun. Protective gear, including long-sleeved shirts, trousers, sunglasses, and hats, in addition to sunscreen with a high sun protection factor of about 30 and even greater, should always be worn. Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should also be used.
