Cotesensing

3 deadliest skin cancers we tend to take for granted

As much as we crave for the sun this summer, we should still not forget to take good care of our skin, lest the harmful elements of the sun rays that damage it.

As the sun radiates light down to earth, it likewise emanates invisible UV rays that could bring irreversible damage to your skin.  Experts claim that sunlight contains three types of UV rays that are quite dangerous to humans;

• UVA (long-wave UV)
• UVB (sunburn UV)
• UVC ( short-wave UV)

It is said that UV rays are the most dangerous of the three, however, since they are blocked by the earth’s ozone layers, they do not hit your skin as you engage in various outdoor activities, although this might happen eventually as the environmentalists are predicting the effects of global warming.

UVA and UVB are the two culprits you should watch out as they cause the most life-threatening skin cancers.  The word cancer is already a term that brings the chills, but these examples of skin cancers seem common and easy to treat but in reality, they can suck the life out of us.

1.  Melanoma - The most dangerous form of skin cancer is thought to be associated with severe UVB sunburns that occur before the age of 20.  Most UVB rays are enough to cause serious skin damage already. It begins in the skin cells called melanin, which is responsible for skin pigmentation.  Though it is a serious skin illness, it is curable, provided it is detected and treated early.  In women, melanoma develops on the lower legs, but it can appear under the fingernails, toenails, palms or soles.  Experts cited that the chance of developing melanoma increases with age, but it affects all age groups just the same.

2.  Squamous cell cancer - This occurs most frequently on the parts of the skin that are exposed to sunlight over long periods of time.  Usually the forehead, cheeks, nose, lower lip, and the top ears are the parts that get affected the most.  Skin experts say that blemishes develop into rough, scaly patches with small areas open wound that do not heal.  They eventually grow into larger wounds with crusts.  Again, early detection and treatment is the key.

3.  Basal cell cancer - Usually found in the areas of skin exposed to sunlight but sometimes occur in sunlight-deprived areas as well. This type of skin cancer appears as a raised, hard, red or red-gray, pearly wound often found on the forehead, eyelids, cheeks, nose or lips.  Again, according to medical literatures, early prevention followed by immediate treatment  is the key.

As always, you should consult a medical specialist should you feel discomfort or any sign of unusual reaction of your skin under the sun.