Skin Cancer Treatment Blog

You may be wondering “What is skin cancer?”  There are three primary types of skin cancer and they are called Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma.  It is a disease that millions of Americans suffer from and is the most common form of cancer in humans.  Its primary cause is too much exposure to the sun and its ultraviolet light.  It usually presents itself in the following manner:  A change in the skin’s appearance or as a sore that will not heal.  If either of these conditions last longer than two weeks, it is advisable to seek medical attention.  Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are more common and less dangerous than Malignant Melanoma.  The more common forms are easy to cure as long as they are diagnosed early.  Treatment depends on the patient’s age, general health condition and where the cancer is located.

There are precautions that can be taken to prevent developing skin cancer.  Avoiding any exposure to the sun is recommended for fair-skinned people.  Monitoring skin conditions, by self-examination and during routine physical exams, is another way to prevent the disease from spreading.  People who have already had the disease should be especially cognizant of their skin condition because the disease tends to reappear.  Any susceptible individual should have regular medical checkups.

The best recommended ways to prevent skin cancer are by limiting exposure to the sun, avoiding the sun around noon, wearing wide-brimmed hats and other protective clothing while outdoors in the sun, using a SPF 30 or higher sunscreen, seeing a doctor regularly or when changing lesions or growths appear on the skin, and avoid using tanning beds.   Artificial tans are something that many people want before going on vacation to get that  tropical look without the sun and to get a slight level of protection from the sun.  However, the protection is SPF 6 and only helps slightly in the protection again the sun’s ultraviolet rays.  Freckled people sunburn easily and are very susceptible to developing skin cancer so they need to be especially mindful in applying adequate sunscreen.  It is very important to remember to apply sunscreen at least every two to three hours for the best protection.  Swimming and other physical activity weaken the effects of sunscreen.

The answer to your question, “What is skin cancer?” has been easily answered because this type of cancer is very common and easy to diagnose.

Technorati Tags: early signs of skin cancer, effective skin cancer treatment, Melanoma Treatment, signs of skin cancer, Skin Cancer Symptoms, Skin Cancer Treatment, skin cancer warning signs, symptoms of skin cancer, types of skin cancer, what does skin cancer look like, what is skin cancer