Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

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With summer in full swing, it is very important to take care of your skin. Knowing how to spot the early skins of skin cancer and learning how to prevent it is crucial for both you and your patients during this time. Taking preemptive measures to protect yourself from excessive sun exposure can significantly minimize your chances of getting skin cancer. Being one of the most common types of cancer, you should not ignore the risks of being in the summer sun. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that there are “over 5.4 million cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer in more than 3.3 million people” reported each year in the U.S. alone with “about 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers” caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure. Continue reading to learn more about skin cancer prevention and early detection so that you and your patients can enjoy a worry-free summer!

Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection: Understanding UV Rays

What is Skin Cancer?

Before you learn about skin cancer prevention and early detection strategies, you need to understand exactly what skin cancer is. Mutated cells multiplying uncontrollably are what causes cancer. Tumors will begin to grow as a result of this rapid growth. Tumors can be benign or malignant, but only malignant tumors can become cancerous. Malignant tumors travel to the body’s organs through the bloodstream, depriving these tissues and organs of oxygen and nutrients. Skin cancer is caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation that damages your skin cells as a result of constant exposure to the sun’s UV rays. Sun damage will eventually cause your cells to mutate and grow, which leads to tumor formation. Harmful UV ray exposure can come from the sun’s rays or from artificial sources such as tanning beds.

What are the Different Types and Symptoms of Skin Cancer?

Three main categories of skin cancer. These categories are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. Doctors diagnose skin cancer based on which skin cells have been damaged. Basal cell carcinoma grows very slowly, so it does not normally spread to other organs.

Squamous cell carcinoma is normally found in scars and is more likely to spread than basal cancer cells. The American Cancer Society notes that even though squamous cell cancers are more likely to grow into deeper layers of the skin and spread to other parts of the body, this is still fairly rare.

Melanoma develops in melanocytes cells. These are the skin cells that create pigments. The formation of moles on various parts of the body is often a sign of melanoma. To detect skin cancer, you need to pay attention to any abnormalities on your skin. If you find actinic keratosis on your skin in the form of rough red or brown marks, it may be time to get tested for skin cancer. These marks could eventually develop into a squamous cell carcinoma. Similarly, finding abnormal moles on your skin such as dysplastic nevi can develop into melanoma.

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How Can I protect Myself?

There are multiple ways to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful UV rays. One of the easiest ways is to cut back on your sun exposure. If you’re spending the day outside, try to stay in the shade or bring a sun umbrella with you. Changing your wardrobe is another easy way to prevent sun damage during the summer months. Wearing lighter clothing will deflect UV rays instead of absorbing them. Wearing a hat and sunglasses can also protect your skin from sun damage. Sunglasses are also great at protecting your eyes from sun damage. Applying sunscreen, even on a cloudy day, is another important tip for skin cancer prevention. Be sure to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours in order to ensure that you are getting the maximum protection. You should also reapply your sunscreen after you dry off from swimming. As you shop for sunscreen, make sure that you’re properly reading the labels and following the instructions to get the most of out your product.

skin cancer prevention and early detection

Are there any skin cancer prevention and early detection tips that we missed? Let us know what they are in the comments below!

Author: Locum Jobs Online

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