Skin Cancer Health Guide

Skin Cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States which usually affects the white skinned people who have been exposed to the sun, x-rays, or ultraviolet (UV) light for prolonged periods. Nearly 600,000 caucasians are affected by skin cancer every year.

The main cause of skin cancer is the overexposure to sunlight, especially with outcomes in the form of sunburn and blistering, and this further been confirmed by medical experts as well. Repetitiveness of getting sun burnt causes cancer of the skin. However, overexposure to sun may also cause the development of certain skin illnesses including cancer and skin carcinoma.

Though sun shades are considered a must have rather than a fashion accessory. Though usages of tanning beds also pose common parable risks of cancer, therefore, there usage can be limited.

Ultraviolet is part of the spectrum of radiation emitted by the sun, which is divided into different wavelengths known as UVA, UVB and UVC. Of these the UVC has the shortest wavelength and is the most dangerous for the skin. UVB on the other hand increases in quantity during the summertime. It is the UVB radiations which cause the burning of the skin and is related with the common skin cancers.

UVA has the longest wavelengths of all and has the tendency of penetrating deeply into the skin. And they pose less tanning and burning sensations with low doses.

Sun beds are different from natural sunlight, as the sun beds provide UVA and UVB. Though the sun bed tan does provide protection up to a certain degree but it does not help in a naturally produced tan.

There is significant amount of UVB in the natural sun, which causes the surface of the skin called the epidermis to thicken which gives an added Skin Cancer and Sun Protection.

The repeated use of sun beds can cause the following problems:
• Premature wrinkles
• Brown patches
• Broken blood vessels
• Leathery looking skin
• Increased risk of melanoma type of skin cancer which is the most fatal

Exposure to tons of lethal ultraviolet sunrays can not only develop into bad sunburn but may also be the cause of peel cancer. A mixture of radiation care and cryotherapy (or freezing) is used to treat and control the low risk cancer. But in cased the disease spreads then treatments like chemotherapy are advised.

Copyright 2009