Skin cancer and sun exposure

• April 19, 2024

It is true that one tanned skin She is extremely beautiful and seductive. But protecting health is much more important. The first signs of the aging process of the skin, due to sun exposure, are presented with fine premature wrinkles , dilation of the capillaries and the appearance of freckles or spots on the skin.

Freckles can be funny in some people, but over time, if they are burned by prolonged exposure to sunlight, they can cause skin cancer. Even more, the breaking of the ozone layer it causes that sunbathing, when done in an irresponsible manner, is even more damaging.

According to the Spanish Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), skin cancer is More frequently among people whose skin it's more white and have spent a lot of time exposed to the sun or have suffered sunburn in the childhood. This cancer can occur anywhere in the body, but it is more common in areas such as the face, neck, hands and arms.

How skin cancer is distinguished

The appearance of skin cancer may vary. The AEDV specialists say that the most common symptom is a change in the appearance of the skin, for example, a elevation or one Wound that does not heal after a long time. Sometimes it can appear as a small soft texture bump and bright or red or reddish brown.

Skin cancer can also be presented as a Rough or scaly red spot . Although not all changes in the skin mean that you have cancer, it is advisable to see the doctor when you notice any changes. As with most cancers, the skin is treated better when it is detected early.

"Epidemic" of non-melanoma skin cancer

Two recent studies published in the magazine "Archives of Dermatology"They give an account of a kind of non-melanoma skin cancer epidemic in the United States. The first of them highlights that 13 million white Americans have suffered at least one cancerous skin tumor throughout their lives; while the second estimates more than 2 million Americans who were treated for the disease in 2006. This latest work reflects an increase of almost 77% in the procedures to treat these diseases. ailments between 1992 and 2006. It should be noted that these data do not appear in official cancer registers.

The melanoma is the more aggressive skin cancer and deadly but, fortunately, it is the least frequent of all. The most common are, by far, the basocellular and the spinocellular, whose lethality is very small. The first is the most common type of non-melanoma skin cancer. It usually occurs in areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun; it often appears in the form of a bulge with a smooth and pearly appearance, although there is another type of carcinoma It has a scar aspect and is firm to the touch.

The basal cell cancers They can spread to nearby tissues, but usually do not spread to other parts of the body. On the other hand, squamous cell carcinoma It is also seen in areas of skin that have been exposed to the sun, often on the upper part of the nose, forehead, lower lip and hands. It can also appear on areas of the skin that have burned or been exposed to chemicals or to radiotherapy . Usually this cancer appears as a reddish and hard bulge. Sometimes the tumor may have a scaly appearance, or it may bleed and develop a scab.

Risk factors at different ages

The American Cancer Society recommends people over 40 have a skin exam every year , and every 3 years for those between 20 and 40 years old. It's advisable self-examine each month . According to this agency, the rates of skin cancer are increasing dramatically, especially in people between 20 and 30 years of age.

In fact, most children receive between 50 and 80% of the sun exposure they will get throughout their lives before they turn 18. Thus, Skin cancers are the most common form of cancer , between 20 and 30%.

The most known risk factors are skin color (skin cancers are more common in people with clear skin, eyes and hair), genetics (having a family history of melanoma increases the risk of developing skin cancer), age (non-melanoma skin cancers they are more common after 50 years of age ) and sun exposure and sunburn (most skin cancers occur in areas regularly exposed to sunlight or other types of skin). ultraviolet radiation (UV) and is considered the main cause of all skin cancers).

Video Medicine: Skin Cancer: What Causes it and Who is at Risk? - Mayo Clinic (April 2024).