Cancer: Preventing Adult Skin Cancer

The most common form of human cancer, skin cancer, is commonly believed to occur in fair-skinned people only but actually, any skin type can have skin cancer. Skin cancer is also generally curable.

It is important for anyone to know how to protect the skin from skin cancer because as the largest organ of the body, it has many important functions. To name some, it protects the body from external dirt, injury, and loss of body fluids. The skin also regulates body temperature, which it communicates to the brain and it provides the body with a sense of touch. The skin also produces vitamin D while it is exposed to sunlight. With its many functions, it is important to always keep the skin healthy.

Exposure to ultra violet rays from sunlight as young children is one of the main causes of skin cancer. However, one should also keep in mind the other causes like the environment, family history, or fair complexion. More causes are exposure to harmful substances like tar, arsenic, or radium and severe sunburn.

There are two main classifications of skin cancer: melanoma or non-melanoma cancer . Non-melanoma cancer is frequently found on the body parts that are exposed to sunlight like the hands , face or neck. It is almost 100% curable and seldom spreads to other parts of the body. The other type, melanoma skin cancer, results from the malignancy of the melanocytes. The melanocytes produces the melanin which gives color to the skin. Early detection means better survival,

The success in the early treatment of skin cancer significantly depends on the collaboration between the patient and the doctor. Any changes on the skin, such as the size of the mole, a new growth, or darkening of a pigmented growth should be consulted with a skin doctor . Do you observe scaling of the skin? Is the pigmentation around a mole spreading? These are warning signs of skin problems. Don't forget to consult, a doctor, too for changes in sensation like itchiness or pain.

Actually, it's possible to prevent skin cancer. The most important preventive measure to remember is to avoid exposure for extended periods particularly after 10am to before 4pm. If you can't avoid being out in the sun , try to find shady areas and stay there. Wear clothing that will protect your skin from harmful sun rays like the ones using tightly-woven materials . Another thing to remember is to never forget to use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher while under the sun. Sunscreen should be reapplied after every few hours, after getting out of the water, if perspiring profusely, or you have removed it after drying yourself with a towel. Take note that even on cloudy days use a sunscreen when outdoors.