Skin cancers develop when the body is exposed to too much ultraviolet radiation (UV rays). Some of the DNA in the skin cells that are exposed to UV rays begin to mutate. They become known as oncogenes that instruct the cell to grow haphazardly.
If these cells are not destroyed by the immune system they will develop into cancerous growths. You can be exposed to UV rays in many ways but the most common way is by exposure to the Sun.
However, some people can spend more time in the sun than others without developing skin cancer. Their skin is not as sensitive to the sun. This is because they have more melanin in the body. Amongst many other functions, melanin makes the skin go brown when exposed to the Sun. This is the body’s natural method of protecting skin cells. This is the tan that many people like to develop as they see it as an indication of health and vitality.
People with low amounts of melanin will have paler skin. The skin will most likely turn red rather than brown and will burn before it tans (if it tans at all) depending on the melanin level. This is fair common knowledge to most people. Indeed, people with pale or blue eyes and fair hair are in the same category. They are likely to burn in the sun and this suggests that they have been exposed to too much ultraviolet radiation.
Even if you do not have a fair complexion, you may still be susceptible to developing skin cancer if your family has a history of developing the disease.
The effects of skin cancer vary depending on the type of carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It is normally found on areas of the body directly exposed to the sun. It is generally a mark or spot on the skin that could be brown or red. In most cases it will not spread from the original location.
Squamous cell carcinoma is another form of skin cancer that is normally found on parts of the body that are exposed to sunlight. Again, it does not always spread from the original location but is more likely to spread than basal cell. If it does spread it will normally only spread to surrounding cells. So if it is on the surface of the skin you will notice a mark that is brown or red that starts to get larger over time.
Melanoma are the third type of skin cancer. They are the most serious and rarest form of skin cancer. They can appear anywhere on the body and are not uncommon in parts of the body that are not normally exposed to the sun, like the feet. They could take the form of a brown spot that gets larger or simply a lump under the skin.
Melanoma is the most likely form of skin cancer to turn malignant. It can grow at a rapid and uncontrollable rate throughout the body. It can grow through tissue and organs. It can get so large that it affects many of the functions in the body.
If melanoma metastasizes throughout the body, treating it becomes extremely difficult thus early detection is key to melanoma treatment.
Limiting your exposure to sunlight and other forms of ultraviolet radiation is the best preventative care you can take. Getting your skin checked out from time to time by your doctor is also a good idea. This is especially good advice if you notice any new or unusual moles or spots on your skin. Or if these lesions appear to have changed in any way.