Know About Skin Cancer

Continuous increase in number of patients diagnosing with pre-cancerous and cancerous skin diseases have brought a lot more awareness in people. It is important to be aware of such type of cancerous diseases because skin is the largest part of human body that protects body from numbers of harmful external elements. Everyone must have knowledge about skin cancer, its causes and symptoms and prevention so that risk of such killer disease can be eliminated.

Basically, skin cancer is of two types. First type is malignant melanoma. This skin cancer is less common but is more serious and deadly. This type of cancerous disease is itself referred to as ‘skin cancer’ sometimes. And type two is non-melanoma skin cancer which is very common but not so serious. Non-melanoma skin cancer is again categorized in two sub-types. Type one is basal cell carcinoma also known as BCC in short. And, type two is squamous cell carcinoma also known as SCC. A number of much rarer non-melanoma skin cancer subtypes exist too. Known under-recording of non-melanoma skin cancer incidence is there because many cases are treated in primary care. Or some are treated privately. That is the reason non-melanoma cases are not so notified to the cancer registries.

Let’s now understand what causes skin cancer:

• Number one and the main reason causes skin cancer is Sun-exposure. Direct contact of skin with sunlight or harmful UV rays is the main cause of malignant melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Each year thousands of cases of malignant melanoma are linked to excessive exposure to sunlight and use of sun-beds.

• Protect your skin from harmful and strong UV rays or sunlight. Cover exposed skin when you go out in sun. Use of SPF lotion or sunscreen cream helps protecting skin from UV rays and sun-damage.

• There are other factors that influence the risk of skin cancer. The chances of skin cancer are more in people with light eyes or hair. Those who sunburn easily or do not tan have an increased risk of skin cancer. Sudden and weird appearance of moles or spots on body can be cancerous. Moles with unusual shape and large size, or a lot of freckles on body have a higher risk of malignant melanoma.

• So it becomes important to know your skin. This would help you detecting any sudden changes in your skin. So that you can approach medical health professional for further medical assistance if required. There are many skin clinics in Sydney where expert skin care experts offer medical assistance for such cancerous diseases, and offer different types of treatments as well.