Skin problems

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. More than 1 million skin cancers are diagnosed annually. Skin cancer is a disease that has shown a steady increase over the past 20 years. Fortunately, with early diagnosis and treatment, it remains a very curable disease. Skin cancer is most likely to be seen on areas of the body that are most often exposed to the sun. These areas include the arms, the legs, the scalp, the back of the neck, the ears, the chest and the back.

Melanoma , the rarest form of skin cancer, is more likely to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma , another type of skin cancer, starts in the melanocytes. It is not as common as basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, but it is much more serious. Melanoma is the rarest and most serious form of the disease. The epidermis is made up of squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes.

Moles that are present at birth and atypical moles, have a greater chance of becoming malignant. Recognizing changes in your child’s moles, by following this ABCD Chart, is crucial in detecting malignant melanoma at its earliest stage. Moles are very common and normally change only slightly over time; however in melanoma there may be a more rapid increase in size – symptoms include a darker or variable discoloration, itching, and possibly ulceration and bleeding.
Sunscreen may be used on babies over six months. Sunscreen users should buy one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Be sure to put on enough lotion. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher. Those rated 15 to 30 block most of the sun’s harmful rays.
Tanning booths use ultraviolet rays. Makers of the booths may claim that they use “harmless” UVA rays. Tanning occurs when the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the skin’s inner layer, causing the skin to produce more melanin, or dark pigments, in response to the sun’s damage.
Sunburn, especially blistering sun burn, can also increase a person’s risk for skin cancer, he said. Even occasional tanning can be harmful. Sunbeds don’t offer a safe way to tan. The intensity of UV rays in some sunbeds can be more than 10 times stronger than the midday sun. Sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
Malignant melanomas are different. They account for about 5% of all skin cancers, and are the type most likely to be fatal. Malignant melanoma occurred most frequently in the 60-69 year-age group (26.7 %). Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer that tends to spread to other parts of the body. These cancers may be fatal if not treated early.
Exposure to the sun?s ultraviolet (UV) rays can directly damage the DNA in skin cells, causing ?signature mutations that are like fingerprints left at the scene of a crime,? In addition, UV light generates free radicals that damage the enzymes which usually repair those cells. Exposure to UV rays from the sun is mainly dependent on how far away from the equator one lives. In the far north (e.g.