Skin cancer, like all cancers, is caused when the body is exposed to some external environmental condition. This causes the DNA within the cells directly exposed to the carcinogen to mutate. They become known as an oncogene that encourages tumor growth in the cell.
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 who have less melanin will have paler skin. This often means that the skin will not brown but go red in the sun. It will also burn if they spend too much time in the sun or don’t protect their skin. Sunburn is obviously painful but it also indicates that the skin has been exposed to too much UV rays. It is the best way to develop cancerous growths on the skin. People with fair or red hair or light colored eyes are also sensitive to the sun.
Another factor that can increase the chances of developing skin cancer is any family history of the disease.
The effects of skin cancer can vary. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It will often look like a mark on the skin that could be brown or red. It may be raised from the skin or flat to begin with. It generally doesn’t spread and is considered to be a benign cancer. It can appear anywhere on the body but mainly on areas that are directly exposed to the sunlight.
Squamous cell carcinoma is also found on parts of the body that come into contact with sunlight. This form of skin cancer is more likely to spread than basal cell carcinoma but it generally only spreads to the surrounding skin cells. Often the blemish or mark will look brown or red. This mark will get bigger over time as more cells become cancerous. It can also become scaly and develop scabs.
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.
Depending on where the cancer spreads or metastasizes this can be extremely hard to treat and potentially life threatening.
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.