People realize that they need to protect themselves from the sun during the summer months, but not many understand that you’re still susceptible to sun damage during the winter months as well. People should be wearing sunblock all year round to protect themselves from harmful UV rays and to prevent skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Basics
Skin cancers are the most common cancers that people contract. Some medical experts estimate that at least 40 percent of everyone over 65 will have some form of skin cancer. The biggest risk for getting skin cancer is overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which can damage the DNA in the skin cells.
Though people who are fair-skinned and have freckles are more at risk of skin cancer, anyone can get it. The cancer might even appear in places that aren’t often exposed to the sun. These places need to be checked as well.
Doing a self-exam is the easiest way to discover a possible skin cancer. People should be wary if they have a sore that doesn’t heal or a mole that grows larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser. The mole may also be asymmetrical, which means that if it’s cut own the middle the two halves don’t match. The mole might also be different colors and might bleed and crust over. Pain usually isn’t a sign of skin cancer.
Here are some basic facts on the different kinds of skin cancer, to help understand why it is important to consider the sun damage throughout the year, not just summer.
Types of Skin Cancer
There are basically three types of skin cancer. There is basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and,lastly, there is melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. This is a slow growing cancer that only rarely metastasizes. Basal cell carcinoma starts in those cells that bring forth new cells to replace dead skin cells. These are called the basal cells.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma begins in the top layer of the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma also rarely spreads, but it’s more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma.
Melanoma
However, melanoma is much more aggressive than other types of skin cancers and causes most of the deaths. Fortunately, melanoma is less common than the other skin cancers. This type of skin cancer begins in the cells that make melanin, which gives skin and hair their color.
There are several ways to treat skin cancer. They can be frozen through a process called cryosurgery, subjected to radiation and treated with a topical chemotherapy. Mohs surgery is a precise type of surgery that removes the cancer layer by layer.
Suspect you or a loved one may be at risk for skin cancer? Contact Four Points Dermatology for a professional consultation. Four Points Dermatology is a premier Austin dermatologist office offering quality services in cosmetic, medial and surgical dermatology procedures.
