subject: Protect Yourself When Visiting The Beach [print this page] Whether you are going on vacation somewhere warm, or already live by the beach, it is important to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun. When the sun's harmful rays attack your body, your chances of developing skin cancer increase. Today it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. If caught early, skin cancers are generally curable. Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet rays. The sun is the source for much of this exposure, but can also come from man-made sources, such as indoor tanning lamps.
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer consists of basal, squamous and melanomas. The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change in the appearance of the skin, such as a new growth or sore that will not heal. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and accounts for more than 90% of all skin cancer in the U.S. Basal cell carcinoma generally never spreads to other parts of the body, but can cause damage by growing and invading the surrounding tissue.
Squamous cell carcinoma is cancer that begins in the squamous cells, which are thin, flat cells that look like fish scales under the microscope. The cells are found in the tissue that forms the surface of the skin, the lining of the hollow organs of the body, and the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts. As a result, squamous cell carcinomas can actually arise in any tissues.
Melanomas can occur anywhere on your body, but are more likely to develop at the trunk of your body (chest and back), legs, face and neck. It occurs less often than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but can be far more serious. Melanoma is almost always curable in the early stages, but if left untreated can be much more likely than basal or squamous cell cancer to spread to other parts of the body where it can be extremely hard to treat.
Detection and Prevention
It is important to monitor your skin in order to properly detect any signs of skin cancer. The key to detecting skin cancers is to monitor your skin for any changes. Even the slightest change should be taken seriously. When monitoring your skin, look for:
*Large brown spots with darker speckles located anywhere on the body
*Dark lesions on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, fingertips, toes, mouth, nose or genitalia
*Translucent pearly and dome-shaped growths
*Existing moles that begin to grow, itch or bleed
*Brown or black streaks under the nails
*A sore that repeatedly heals and re-opens
*Clusters of slow-growing scaly lesions that are pink or red
In addition, the American Academy of Dermatology developed a guide for assessing whether or not a mole or other lesion may become cancerous. This is referred to as the ABCDE guide:
*Asymmetry
*Border
*Color
*Diameter
*Elevation
Roughly 90% of non-melanoma cancers are attributed to UV radiation from the sun. Stay out of the sun during peak hours and cover up your arms and legs with protective clothing or sunscreen. Also, check your skin monthly and contact your dermatologist if you notice any changes. If any changes do occur, make an appointment to see your Tampa dermatologist immediately. Your dermatologist will be able to assess and diagnose your skin early to begin healing.
