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Too
much sun can cause skin cancer
Skin cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells are found in the
outer layers of your skin. Skin protects you from heat, wounds, light
and infection.
Sunburns and ultraviolet (UV) rays can affect your skin and this in
turn can lead to skin cancer. Of course, other factors like heredity
and environment too play a crucial role in deciding the risk factor.
Tanning or darkening of the skin is your body's reaction to the effects
of UV. But it is no protection against skin cancers.
Skin cancer can take long years to manifest itself. Any ill-effect
to your skin, like sunburn or a sore that won't heal, may take as
long as 20 years to develop into a cancer. Any decolouration, extra
growth, a lump or any other change in your skin should immediately
be shown to the doctor to reduce the risk. A cancerous lump is usually
shiny, smooth and waxy looking. Like any other cancer, skin cancer
too should be cured in the initial stages itself to reduce further
risk.
If your family has a history of skin caner, then chances of
you getting afflicted increase.
Risk
factors and groups
The incidence of skin cancer is more among fair skin people. For example,
people from North America, England and other European countries are
more susceptible.
Likewise, people living in higher altitudes too are more at
risk as compared to people living at the sea level. This is because
the effect of UV rays increases as you move up the sea level. As the
atmosphere becomes rarified filters to cut down UV rays reduce affecting
the human skin more. Cloudy atmosphere is found to cut down UV rays
by almost 50 per cent.
UV ray intensity is the highest between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the
Sun is the brightest. The level of UV rays has increased in the past
50-100 years. This is because of the depletion in ozone layer, which
acts as a filter against UV rays.
Skin consists of two layers: epidermis (outer layer) and dermis (inner
layer). The epidermis consists of three types of cells: flat, scaly
cells which form the outer part of your skin called squamous cells,
round shaped ones called basal cells and melanocytes, the cells which
are responsible for the colour of your skin.
Most
common cancers
The most common types of cancers are squamous cell cancer and basal
cell cancer. There is also more serious type of cancer called melanoma,
which affects melanocytes.
This is more dangerous because it spreads to all parts of the body
through the lymph system and blood circulation. Lymph nodes are bean
shaped structures which store cells to fight diseases. You should
consult your doctor if there is any symptom of melanoma: any change
in the size, shape or colour of a mole; if there is bleeding and if
it feels itchy and is tender to touch. Melanoma can also appear as
a new mole in the body. Men get melanoma in the trunk area - between
shoulders and hips -- and women are more affected in hands and legs.
Areas which are more prone to this cancer are those which are most
exposed to the sun like face, hands, neck and back.
Precautions
- Avoid
exposure to sun during mid-day and between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Apply
sunscreen lotion when you perspire and after swimming
- Wear
clothes that cover your face neck and back.
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Water is essential for the growth and maintenance
of our bodies, more |
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