What Types of Skin Cancers are there?
There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are the less serious types and make up 95% of all skin cancers. Also referred to as non-melanoma skin cancers, they are highly curable when treated early. Melanoma, made up of pigment cells called melanocytes, is the most serious form of skin cancer and causes 75% of all skin cancer deaths. Left untreated, it can spread to other organs and is difficult to control.
How is UV Radiation Harmful?
Exposure to ultra violet radiation appears to be the most important environmental factor in the development of skin cancer and other UV related health effects. Ultra violet rays react with a chemical called Melanin that's found in most people's skin. Melanin is your first defense against the sun. It absorbs dangerous UV rays before they cause damage to your skin. Melanin is found in different concentrations and colors; the darker your natural skin color, the more melanin has to protect itself. As the Melanin increases in response to sun exposure, the skin tans. But even that healthy tan maybe a sign of sun damage.
Skin Types
Skin type is the most important factor in determining a persons risk for skin cancer. Skin types range from those who burn easily and never suntan to those who do not burn at all. Even people with dark complexions can get a sun burn. No one is exempt from the possibilities of getting skin cancer or other serious health problems from the suns UV rays. Some individual characteristics that are risk factors for skin cancer include: Fair Skin; Light colored hair; blue, green or hazel eyes; tendency to burn rather than suntan; history of severe burns; many moles and/or freckles; and family history of skin cancer.
What Signs Should I look for?
The warning signs of skin cancer can be easily remembered as the ABC’s of skin cancer:
Asymmetry: an abnormal lesion will have one side looking different than the other
Border: watch for an irregular border or one with roughly demarcated edges
Color: observe for lesions that have changed color over time or are multi-colored
Diameter: be suspicious of lesions that are larger than a pencil eraser
Who Needs To Use Sunscreen?
In one word: everyone! The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Academy of Dermatology recognizes six skin categories:
Skin Type Sun History Example
I Always burns easily, never tans, extremely sun sensitive skin Red-headed, freckles, Irish/Scots/Welsh
II Always burns easily, tans minimally, very sun sensitive skin Fair-skinned, fair-haired, blue or green-eyed, Caucasians
III Sometimes burns, tans gradually to light brown, sensitive skin Average skin
IV Burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown, minimally sun sensitive Mediterranean-type Caucasians
V Rarely burns, tans well, sun insensitive skin Middle Eastern, some Hispanics, African-Americans
VI Never burns, deeply pigmented, sun insensitive skin African-Americans |
