Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Potential Dangers of Skin Cancer

By Toby Johns

Skin cancer is one of the risks we all take when we step outside of the house and walk under the sun. There are even people who are fond of going to the beach and getting a tan. They spend hours and hours exposed to the sun and its harmful rays. We may not know it, but we are all candidates for skin cancer. This is such a scary thought for most of us considering that our skin is the largest organ in our body. Any sign of skin cancer may not be visible immediately but it can start to show signs after a couple of years.

Undeniably, the ongoing depletion of the ozone layer hasn't helped matters either. In fact, we're now at an even greater risk that we were before to get one of the three forms of skin cancer which are Basil cell, Squamous Cell and Melanoma.

Our exposure to the ultra violet rays from the sun damage our skin cells resulting to skin cancer. We are quite familiar with how skin cancer manifests itself to our bodies. We get large sores or spots which may seem impossible to remove. Though these may seem harmless, they may be resistant to any treatment and will just keep on showing again and again. As with other types of cancer, cancer cells can really be aggressive, they just keep on coming around before you know it.

Yes, there certainly is a high risk of skin cancer but because we know what causes it, we can take the necessary steps to prevent it. Of course, it's just not possible for any of us to avoid the sun entirely but having said that, we can use skin protection whenever we know we'll be exposed to direct sun. Fortunately enough, there are a vast amount of products on the market to today with SPF (sun protection factor) ratings of between 15 and 80. Apart from sun-block creams and lotions, many moisturizers and other cosmetics also now have a SPF rating. While a product with a SPF 15 rating offers only minimal protection, those which have a SPF of 80 offer total protection by blocking out all the harmful ultra-violet rays.

You may want to reduce your exposure to the sun. The summer may be the most loved season of most people because it allows them to enjoy the sun at the beach but this will always increase the chances of skin cancer. Even if you are just walking short distances from one place to another, you can never be too sure. Always wear caps, sun glasses, clothes that will protect you from the sun. If it is even possible, you may want to use an umbrella for further protection from the sun.

From time to time, you may want to self examine your body for any symptoms of skin cancer. If you notice something unusual, see a dermatologist. They can identify if that is a sign of skin cancer or just a regular skin infection.

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