Any abnormal growth of skin cells in the outer layer of skin is considered skin cancer. The main two reasons for skin cancer are UV rays and the use of UV tanning machines. However, this can even occur on areas that are not exposed to sun, though most often develops when your skin is exposed to sun.
Skin cancer awareness month is observed every May with an intention to educate people to safeguard their skin against UV radiation. It is important to protect your skin against UV rays whenever you are outdoors. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen to reduce your risk of skin cancer.
Risk Factors
Risk factors are those that affect the chances of people getting the disease. Some risk factors can be controlled, for example exposure to sun, but some cannot be changed. People with some characteristics like, lighter skin, large number of moles, heredity of skin cancer, old age are at a greater risk.
UV Rays
Three major types of skin cancer are Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Of these, Melanoma is the most serious, but less common type of skin cancer. More than 85% of these cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sun.
Reducing your exposure to sun can help considerably reduce the risk of skin cancer though you have some or any of the risk factors. When you are exposed to UV rays, your skin produces melanin and that’s what seen as tanned skin. It doesn’t mean that your skin is healthy. Rather it means that your skin is responding to the injury caused by the UV rays.
Overtime, this leads to skin cancers and UV rays also affects your eye which is called ocular melanoma. The more you are exposed to UV rays, higher is the chance of skin cancers.
Plastic Surgery For Skin Cancers
Check your skin for any noticeable changes and if you find any that worry you, make an appointment with a plastic surgeon. At earlier stages, changes in the skin are not cancerous but could become overtime. It is easy to treat at earlier stages. Especially malignant melanoma can be fatal if unnoticed.
Plastic surgery is one excellent option for treating skin cancers. A plastic surgeon can remove any type of skin lesion. Taking care not to change your appearance, they reconstruct the operative wound and restore the area to normal appearances as much as is possible.
Michael J. Streitmann is a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with whom you can have wide range of cosmetic procedures.
