You Must Know Sun And Skin Cancer

When Ellen was a teenager, she loved to be out in the summer sun

. She ran, she worked in her garden. She would swim and sit by the pool for hours soaking up the sunshine. And she never got tired of hearing people tell her how great her tan looked. Thomas Sabo Charms

As Ellen got older, she continued to spend lots of time outdoors in the sun. By the time she was in her forties, Ellen's skin had developed a weathered look, with small creases and wrinkles. That was okay, but she also began to notice brown patches developing on her face and hands. Ellen saw a doctor and found out she had a relatively mild case of skin cancer. Ellen was lucky. Her cancer was detected early. With early treatment, she was completely cured. Cured. But Ellen had begunlate in lifeto pay for all those years she had spent in the sun.

Ellen isn't unusual. The athletic, bronzed bodies we see in magazine ads and TV commercials constantly sell the idea that a good tan means health, attractiveness, adnoun. The result is that many people believe those ads. And they spend a lot of time in the sunoften just trying to get tan. That golden or bronze color may look nice, but skin doctors know that sitting in the sun until you are baked several shades darker is not such a hot idea.

According to the National Cancer Institute, over 400,000 Americans can expect to get some form of skin cancer this year. Most of these people will be 40 or older. However, skin cancerespecially skin cancer caused by exposure to the suncan often take many years to develop. So it's never too early to protect yourself in the sun.

What's a tan?

As soon as warm weather arrives, lots of people who don't already have dark skin want to start working on their tans. But a tan isn't really nature's way of making you look gorgeous. A tan is your skin's defense against the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV rays damage skin cells. So when you decide to have a marathon roasting session in the sun, cells in your skin called melanocytes go to work overtime. They produce an extra supply of melanin, the brown/black pigment that gives your skin its color. That extra melanin makes your skin darker, and that's why you "tan".

Think of your tan as a shield of melanin your body produces to block out the UV radiation. The problem is, it's a weak shield at best. There's no way for your body to protect itself fully against the sun's harmful raysespecially if you expose yourself to the sun hour after hour, day after day, year after year. As you get older, the buildup of many hours in the sun means more of a chance for skin damageand possibly skin cancer.

This skin damage takes two general forms. Some UV attacks supporting cells in the lower layer of the skin, called the dermis. That causes skin to get dry, tough, and wrinkled. Even more serious is the damage the sun's UV rays can do to the DNA of skin cells. DNA is the genetic blueprint that cells use to reproduce. With Damaged DNA, the skin may produce mutated cells that start to grow in an uncontrolled way: skin cancer.

Nature gives you a clue about how much sun is enough by the color of your skin. If your skin is light, you don't have much built-in protection against the sun. You probably tan very little, if at all. So be very careful in the sun.

If you, have dark skin and dark hair, you can probably stand a bit more sun exposure. Just don't be fooled into thinking you can stay out in the sun indefinitely. You can't. People with dark skin also get sunburned and can suffer skin damage. It just takes a bit longer for the damage to show up. Types of skin cancer

The three most common types of skin cancer are all connected with exposure to the sun. The most common of these is basal cell carcinoma. Basal cancers often look like waxy, pearly growths or red, scaly patches. They appear most often on the face, neck, or hands.

Squamish cell cancer is the second most common type. This cancer spreads more quickly. Squamish cell cancers often appear on the head, hands, or other sun-exposed parts of the body. They show up as sharply outlined red, scaly patches.

The third type of skin cancer is called melanoma. Melanoma is often caused by too much ex-posture to the sun, but it can be brought on by other things as well. Melanomas show up as brown or black mole-like growths on the back, legs, or torso. They can also appear on the palms, soles of the feet, fingers, toes.

Melanoma is the rarest of these three kinds of skin cancer, but it is the most serious form. While the overwhelming majority of basal and squadrons cell cancer cases can be cured, many melanoma cases are fatal.

Since all of these forms of cancer can resemble harmless skin marks of irritations, be aware of marks of growths on your skin. And consult a doctor if you notice any changes.

"In general, look for anything new in your skin," advises dermatologist, Dr. Louis Vogel. "Pay attention to anything on your skin that grows rapidly, that bleeds or has irregular color. Also, suspect any mole that itches or has some areas that are darker or higher than others. "

Although skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, it is also the most treatableif caught early. Thomas Sabo Bracelets

There are several methods of treatment. They include surgical removal, treatment with heat, extreme cold and freezing, as well as chemical treatment and use of X-rays. However, as with many other diseases, the most important "cure" is prevention. "Clover as much skin as possible when you're out in the sun," warns Dr. Vogel. "When you're at the beach, wear sun blocks. There are many things in life you can't prevent. But skin cancer is something you can often prevent if you take the proper precautions. "

by: allanleelovemonica

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