What is Skin Cancer? What Are The Risk Factors Causing Skin Cancer?

The skin is the body's largest organ and protects people against external factors. Uncontrolled proliferation of skin cells causes skin cancers. Skin cancers are among the most common types of cancer. Skin cancer occurs due to many reasons. What is Skin Cancer? What Are The Risk Factors Causing Skin Cancer? Skin cancer symptoms, causes and treatment.

While it is more common in areas such as the face, neck and hands that are most exposed to UV rays, it can also occur in areas of the body that are not exposed to sunlight. While skin cancers can occur in many different colors and shapes, it is of great importance to observe changes with regular body and mole examinations and doctor controls. Specialist from Memorial Health Group Medstar Antalya Hospital Dermatology Department. Dr. Hatice Duman gave information about what should be considered for skin health.

 

Take pictures of the changes in your skin

There are 3 basic types of skin cancers, mainly basal cell, squamous cell cancer and melonam. While basal cell and squamous cell cancer develops from the cells that make up the skin, melanoma consists of the cells that give color to the skin. Apart from these, there are also less common types of skin cancer originating from different cells such as hair follicles and sebaceous glands in the structure of the skin. Skin cancers can occur in many different colors and shapes. It is vital that the person performs regular self-examination of the body and mole. In order to check later whether there is any change in the body, photographs can be taken and stored. Going for regular dermatology exams can prevent the risk of developing skin cancer.

Risk factors for skin cancers are as follows;

1. Prolonged exposure to sunlight
2. Childhood sunburn,
3. Having fair skin, red hair, freckles and colored eyes
4. Frequent solarium
5. Family or family history of skin cancer
6. Having too many moles
7. Having a wound that has not healed for many years or has healed badly
8. Prolonged exposure to X-ray, arsenic, and coal tar
9. Advanced age
10. Situations in which immunity is suppressed due to reasons such as organ transplantation
11. Male gender
12. Some skin diseases

If there is a new mole after 36 years old…

If there is growth, deformity, color change, edge irregularity in moles, if it looks different from other moles, if there is a new moles after the age of 36, a dermatologist should be consulted. Again, in non-healing wounds that have persisted for at least 1 month, different swellings and newly formed spots on the skin should not be neglected. The belief that it spreads when the knife touches is completely wrong among the people. There should be no worry about removing or sampling any lesions that the dermatologist recommends removing or sampling. The age of the person, comorbidities, type of skin cancer, and the area of ​​involvement are the determining factors for treatment. Although the basic treatment is surgical removal, sometimes different treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, cryotherapy can be applied.

Things to consider when using sunscreen

• The most important way to prevent skin cancers is to use sunscreen.
• Sunscreen should be applied not only to the face but also to all sun-exposed areas.
• Products with an SPF of at least 30 should be preferred.
• Sunscreen should be applied half an hour before going out to the sun and should be renewed every 2-4 hours.
• Sunscreen should be renewed in cases of washing, sweating or swimming.
• If possible, care should be taken not to be outside between 10-15 hours.
• Care should be taken to protect them under the sun with physical protectors such as hats and umbrellas.