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Symptoms of skin cancer
Some of the symptoms of skin cancer include:
- Lumps that are pale, pearly or red
- Non-healing crusty sores
- Freckles And spot that change in colour, shape or size in a duration of time
It is essential to visit a dermatologist or skin cancer specialist once such symptoms are visible to understand and learn the risks and treatments of skin cancer which keeps one aware and alert to avoid developing into the deeper stages of cancer which are dangerous.
Many clinics have been set up to take care of skin cancer patients and have specialized pathology laboratory to help in the treatment. One of the centres is Sundoctors skin cancer clinics among others.
Skin cancer causes
Anyone is at risk of having skin cancer despite the age, race or background. Skin cancer does not choose whom to effect; it affects all. Some of the common causes include :
- Sunburn
It causes 95% of melanoma cancer patients. It is caused by direct exposure to ultraviolet rays. Sunburn can occur at times when the weather is cool. The direct exposure does not only burn the skin but it increases the damage of the skin accelerates skin cancer.
- Solariums
The use of solariums should be avoided as there is the emission of UVA and UVB rays when it’s in use. The solarium can be found in cosmetics.
- Tanning
The use of tan to protect self from sunburn is also a significant contributor to skin cancer infection. Tanning is simply a way to say that one has been exposed to enough UV radiation from the sun. People often believe that tanning protects one from the rays, but in real situations, it affects and puts you at risk of having skin cancer.
Risks of skin cancer
There are some risks involved in developing skin cancer and are usually close to the symptoms. They include;
- Green or blue eyes
- Large and different types of moles develop
- The skin burns redden and become painful when exposed to sunlight
- The hair turns Red or blond
- A lighter look is seen
Treatment of skin cancer
Skin cancer is at most times removed. In developed or modernized skin cancer centres the tissue is removed to eradicate the skin cancer cells. Some of the common ways of treating cancer includes:
- The use of surgeries. There are different types of operations that include reconstructive surgery, electro dissection and curettage surgery, and the Mohs procedure.
- The use of radiation therapy. In this process, radioactivity is used to eliminate cancer cells.
- The use of immunotherapy. In this therapy, elements are used to improve the immune and defence of the patient’s body.
- Topical treatments. This is treating the disease in its precancerous conditions while the cancer is at the top of the skin.
The best way to protect self from skin cancer is to avoid direct exposure to the sun especially in the mid-morning hours and the afternoon when the sun is too hot. specialists advise anyone seeking vitamin D to do so before 10 AM.
Other ways of prevention include; wearing of clothes that cover most of your body, wearing hats that cover the face, ears and the head, putting on some sunglasses that meet necessary standards, sitting under shades and use of sunscreens that have been approved by the relevant regulatory bodies.
