Cancer Resources

We mostly blame the sun for melanoma. UV radiation from the sun can damage the DNA in your cells. Sometimes the damage is to the certain genetic code that controls how and when your cells grow and divide. When that happens cells begin to grow out of control and eventually we call it a cancer (melanoma to be precise).

Causes of Melanoma

Most UV radiation is from the sun, but there are other common sources of UV radiation. The most common source of UV radiation (aside from the sun) is a tanning bed. Be careful when using a tanning bed – don’t overdo it!

Most UV exposure that leads to skin cancer occurred to people in their childhood or young adult years. Children and young adults usually get a lot of intense sun exposure when they are young, but the resultant cancer may not show up for years or decades! Continue reading ‘What Causes Melanoma and Who is Likely to Get It?’ »

Protect your skin from the sun when you can, wear protective clothing such as hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants. Use sunscreen lotion on your face, neck, hands, forearms and other unprotected areas of the skin. Be sure to choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or greater. Apply the sunscreen before going out in the sun.

Ultraviolet radiation can travel through car and home windows, where it can contribute to the daily accumulation of sun exposure that can lead to skin cancer and photo aging. Ultraviolet rays are a part of sunlight that is an invisible form of radiation. Just what is ultraviolet (UV) radiation? UV radiation, emitted by both the sun, and tanning beds and lamps, is a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Continue reading ‘Minimizing Sun Exposure Is The Best Way To Prevent Skin Damage’ »

We should learn to protect our skin conscientiously from ultraviolet radiation because an excessive sun exposure can increase the risk of getting melanoma. To protect ourselves from burning, reducing the risk of melanoma skin cancer or other skin diseases, we should use appropriate clothing, sunscreens and a gradual and responsible exposure to the sun. A natural tan can also protect us from UV light.

Use of Clothing

In the hours of the day when solar radiation is very high, we have to use protective clothing, glasses, hats, etc., because applying only sunscreen products on the skin may not protect us sufficiently.
The clothing not only acts as a barrier against UV rays, but often allows a better heat combating thanks to the thin layer of air that provides an insulation between the garment and the skin.
However, factors like the moisture, the clothes color, the clothes material, influence the transmission of UV radiation through the tissue. Continue reading ‘How to Protect Our Skin From UV Radiation to Prevent the Melanoma Skin Cancer’ »