As ultra-violet rays account for a majority number of cases of skin cancers, protection against these rays is not only important but worthwhile in maintaining the beauty and well being of your skin.
Sunblock or sunscreen has proved to be effective and is a convenient choice to use. However, there are some information that people should bear in mind in selecting these products and using them.
SPF – SPF stands for sun protection factor. It indicates the number of times your original time (for reddening your skin) can be extended. For instance, an SPF of 15 means that it would take 15 times longer to redden than without the sunscreen. For normal commuting and daily wear, a SPF of at least 15 is recommended.
Broad spectrum protection – preferably look for the ones that offer the broad spectrum protection, that is, with both UVA and UVB protection.
Water-resistant – you will get even more protection from a product that is labeled “water-proof”. The water-resistant products generally afford full protection for forty minutes in water and also provide better protection even if you sweat heavily.
Allergic Reaction – try to stay away from products containing the chemical like PABA as some people could develop an allergic reaction to it.
Useful active ingredients – look for sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide, micronized zinc oxide or avobenzone. Zinc oxide is effective in blocking both UVA and UVB rays.
Reapply regularly – depending on the SPF values, sunscreen should be reapplied at appropriate intervals. This should be done even more often if you are sweating or swimming or in an environment that intensifies the reflection of the sun’s rays. A good example o the latter would be winter sports.
Filed under Prevention by on Jan 2nd, 2010. Comment. 
For many years since the 80’s, people have been taking tanning salons, or tanning beds as a safe alternative to basking under the sun. These machines were said to produce UVA rays and not UVB rays which are the cause of most sunburns.
Researchers have since found that tanning beds do produce UVB rays as well. Besides, UVA rays are not as safe as once thought. These rays can penetrate deeper into the skin and cause damages to the dermis, the true skin.
Articles from the Skin Cancer Foundation reveal that the high pressure sunlamps used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that of the sun. As a result, people frequent tanning salons are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. In terms of the risk of developing melanoma, it is almost twice as often as other people. For youth exposing to tanning beds, the likelihood of melanoma happening in the latter part of their life could be as high as 75%.
The idea of using tanning beds to create a safe “base tan” first before exposing to the natural sun has proved false as well. It does nothing to prevent sunburn.
Getting your tan by way of the machine or directly from the natural sun is equally dangerous. The more we know about these ultra-violet rays, the more we have to ask ourselves the question: is the tan worth the risk?
Filed under Prevention by on Dec 18th, 2009. 1 Comment.
The following are the main causes of skin cancer.
1/ Ultra-violet rays from the sun – the two associated with skin cancer are UVA (ultra-violet A) and UVB (ultra-violet B) rays. UVB rays are the shorter-wave solar rays and are more unlikely to cause skin reddening and sunburn. UVA rays, however, would have more permanent damages to the skin as they penetrate much deeper to the skin. Latest studies show that UVA not only increases UVB’s cancer-causing effects, but may also directly cause some skin cancers, including melanomas.
2/ Family History – recent research confirms that the risk of melanoma is more than double in people with a family history of skin cancer. Though having someone in the family with skin cancer does not necessarily mean that you will get it too, it certainly warrants some extra attention because of the higher risk factor.
3/ Chemical Exposure – some chemicals might cause harm when they come into contact with your skin. Insecticides, for instance, often contain substances like arsenic that are dangerous to the skin. They can increase the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. Nevertheless, people working in environments in regular contact with chemicals and industrial materials (such as petroleum derivatives, arsenicals, and coal tar) are more likely to develop some type of skin cancer.
4/ Smoking — whilst it is common knowledge that smoking is linked to other types of cancer such as mouth and lung cancers, the tobacco used in cigarettes etc could be a cause to developing skin cancer too.
5/ Radiation Exposure – there are concerns that radiation therapy that some children undergo for other cancer treatments may increase the risk of developing a non-melanoma skin cancer. Also, people working with X-rays, including medical, nursing and radiographic personnels are subject to higher risks.
6/ Skin Condition and Geography – certain skin conditions can increase a person’s risk of developing skin cancer. For instance, people with light to fair skin living in tropical or subtropical climates, such as the American Southwest, equatorial Africa, Hawaii, and Australia, generally have very high incidences of skin cancer. Serious injuries to the skin, if not healed in time, could raise the chance for non-melanoma skin cancer. Likewise for scars from very bad burns.
7/ Weak Immune System – the immune system is part of the body’s defense against bacteria and cancerous formations. When the immune system is strong, the antibodies and immune cells are better able to do their job in neutralizing the free radicals and getting rid of the harmful elements from the body. Conversely, a weak immune system would open up a lot of possibilities as cancerous cells could spread out fast and divide in ways that are hard to predict.
Filed under Prevention, Symptoms, skin cancer diagnosis by on Dec 9th, 2009. Comment.
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Filed under News, Prevention by on Dec 4th, 2009. Comment.
Approximately 90% of all skin cancers are believed to come from exposure to the sun’s ultra-violet rays. These are the invisible rays and are part of the many forms of solar radiation.
Ultra-violet ray spectrum covers a range from about 4 to 380 nanometers (nm). A nanometer is one billionth of a meter. The whole spectrum is made up of three sections: UVC rays from about 100 to 280nm, UVB rays from about 280 to 320nm, and UVA from about 320 to 400nm.
Only UVB and UVA reach the earth’s surface and are therefore the ones that have a strong bearing to our overall skin health.
UVB has longed been regarded as the tanning ray and is the strongest in the summer months. In moderation, these rays help to induce tanning. As a result, the skin is protected from too much exposure to the sun by thickening the epidermis (outer layer of skin). However, more often than not, people are suffering from sunburn because of prolonged exposure to these rays.
UVA was regarded in the 80’s as the safe ray. As a result, the use of UVA was widely promoted in tanning beds and tanning salons. We now understand that UVA is not better off than UVB. Indeed these rays can penetrate the skin more deeply, causing skin wrinkling and leathering. They can result in more permanent damages to the skin cells called keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, inevitably enhancing the chance of such damaged cells to becoming cancerous.
In order than we can effectively protect our body from UVA and UVB damages, using sunscreen products with a SPF of at least 15+ is highly recommended.
Filed under Prevention by on Dec 2nd, 2009. Comment.
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Filed under News, Prevention, skin cancer diagnosis, skin cancer treatment by on Dec 2nd, 2009. Comment.
Skin cancer is one of the common forms of cancer these days. In comparison with the other forms of cancer, it is less life-threatening because it is more noticeable even at early stages of its formation.
It is relatively easy to detect with self inspection of the skin. Besides, there are obvious ways that people can follow to minimize possibility of skin cancer from even occurring in the first place.
It is a good idea to incorporate as part of a routine physical checkup that your doctor examines your skin for any abnormal growths or discoloration, etc. You should also check your skin regularly at least once a month.
Checking your skin for skin cancer is quick, easy, and painless. When you do your self examination, you will want to take your time to really get a good look at your skin and bear in mind the various signs of cancerous growths. Make sure that you are in a well lit area and preferably with a full length mirror. Get ready a hand mirror as well because there will likely be areas that are not so easy to see with only one mirror. Carefully observe your skin and condition. You would gain a lot better understanding about how your healthy skin would look, and set a comparison to whatever that might look suspicious.
When examining your skin, take note of anything you haven’t noticed before. Start with your face and carefully work your way down the length of your body. Try to pay particular attention to the areas that are often exposed to the sun. Look for changes in the character of any abnormality such as the shape or size of a mole or discoloration.
If you like, you can research for medical drawings or photos online to guide you in the different types of skins cancers.
Early detection is the key to successfully treating skin cancer.
In general, people with lighter complexion might be more vulnerable. There are good ways to protect your skin from harmful UV-A’s and UV-B’s. Consider the like of wearing sunscreen, covering exposed skin, and wearing hats. If at all possible, try to stay indoors and keep yourself away from those extremely sunny conditions.
Over time, you would realize that all these little things would add up to give you a better-looking and healthier skin.
Filed under Prevention by on Nov 6th, 2009. Comment.
