There are cases when skin cancer develops after severe burns or a common tattoo. But often skin cancer develops from the action of such factors that surround us in everyday life, this is solar radiation. Part of the solar radiation is invisible light, ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet radiation is high energy radiation that penetrates deep into the skin and damages cells in its path.
Sunburn
In the past, people worked a lot in the sun: in the fields and on the streets of cities, while they usually rolled up their sleeves or simply took off their shirts.
Beginning in the 30s of the 20th century, a craze for tanning appeared. On the one hand, it has become very fashionable, even if you are an office worker or student, to have tanned skin, although by nature it can be light. People with fair skin were considered almost sick. On the other hand, tanning was associated with outdoor life, playing sports or lying thoughtlessly on the beach or near the outdoor pool (the darker the tan, the better it was thought).
Tanning, as well as smoking once, was considered a manifestation of an active healthy life. This opinion was false. Healthy people from smoking got lung cancer, and those who spent years sunbathing on the beaches and getting sunburn got sick with skin cancer.
How can a tan cause skin cancer?
How did this work out? Tanning is an attempt by the skin to protect itself.Firstly, dead cells of the surface layer of the skin partially absorb ultraviolet rays.
Interesting fact: even a dark tan will not protect you completely from ultraviolet radiation.
Secondly, living cells of the deeper layers of the skin begin to produce an excess of melanin - a pigment that stains our skin and absorbs a large amount of ultraviolet rays. Therefore, lying in the sun makes the skin dark. However, even a very strong tan can only reduce by half the amount of ultraviolet rays passing through the skin. The longer you sit in the sun, trying to darken even more, the more ultraviolet rays destroy the cells of your skin. The result will be a sunburn, and sometimes skin cancer.
Types of Skin Cancer
The most common and least dangerous form of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. Basal cells are located in the deepest layer of the skin. In the United States of America (USA), over 400 000 people develop basal cell carcinoma each year. It used to be a disease of the elderly. Now, doctors are concerned about the rejuvenation of this type of cancer: even teenagers are getting sick now. Fortunately, basal cell carcinoma responds well to treatment - just remove the area affected by the tumor.
Interesting fact: the only good skin cancer is that it can almost always be prevented.
The most severe skin cancer is melanoma - a tumor. This is the most serious skin disease.If untreated, melanoma can become fatal, giving metastases to internal organs such as the lungs and brain. Its distribution in the world is associated with a mad passion for tanning. Tanning became even more dangerous when ozone holes appeared in the ozone layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, which allows even more ultraviolet rays to reach the Earth’s surface.
Skin cancer prevention
To slightly dispel the gloomy impression of skin cancer, let's say that it also has one positive quality - it is very simple to prevent, simple and reliable, with almost a 100 percent guarantee: if possible, do not undress in the sun, use sunscreen and cover your head . Never sit in the sun toasting for a good tan.
Skin Cancer - Video
