Just about everyone has at some time suffered from a bad case of sunburn. On average, a person’s risk for melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, doubles if he or she has had more than five sunburns. Here’s how to protect your skin and your life.

How does it happen?

Skin cancer is the most common of all types of cancer and occurs when abnormal skin cells grow rapidly and out of control due to unrepaired damage. This is mostly caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun or artificial sources such as tanning beds. Exposure can activate genetic defects, leading to the skin cells multiplying quickly and forming harmful tumours. These tumours can spread and damage surrounding tissues, or can be fatal when they affect organs.

It is usually the very young or those with a more sun-sensitive skin type that suffer most damage, while the highly physical outdoor types and indoor “tanners” are also at high risk of getting skin cancer. That’s why the Skin Cancer Foundation, the only global organisation solely devoted to the prevention, early detection and treatment of skin cancer, instituted Sun Smart Skin Cancer Month, celebrated in South Africa during January.

Types of skin cancers

Skin cancers can be categorised as follows:

Basal cell cancer

This is the most common type of skin cancer. It develops from basal cells in the deepest layer of the epidermis. It mainly develops in areas most exposed to the sun, e.g. nose, forehead and cheeks, and is generally found in middle aged or older people. Even though it rarely spreads and is therefore rarely fatal, it can leave the skin damaged and scarred if not treated in time. It is easily treated with surgery or radiation. Basal cell cancer is unlikely to cause secondary cancer.

Squamous cell cancer

This type of cancer begins in squamous cells in the upper level of the epidermis. It is the second most common form of skin cancer and, like basal skin cancer, most often develops in sun exposed areas, including parts of the head, neck and on the back of hands and forearms. It can also occur on other areas of the body, as squamous cells are also found in the lining of the intestines and lungs. It rarely spreads and, if spreading occurs, it is usually to the deeper layers of the skin. If it spreads to lymph nodes and organs it can cause secondary cancers and can be fatal. Organ transplant patients are up to 250 times more likely than the general public to develop squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and develops in the pigment-producing melanocytes located between the dermis and epidermis. These cancerous growths develop when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells triggers mutations that cause the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours. Melanoma mostly occurs in damaged cells from intense exposure to ultraviolet light. Melanomas often resemble moles and the majority of melanomas are black or brown. Melanoma has the greatest fatality rate, but it is very curable if treatment is started early, before it spreads.

Prevention

The following tips may help to prevent skin cancer:

    • Always wear sunscreen (SPF of 15 or higher), protective clothing, sunglasses and hats when outside. Regular daily use reduces the risk of developing both squamous cell carcinoma (by 40%) as well as melanoma (by 50%).
    • Avoid sunburn and periods of peak sun exposure (between 10 am and 4 pm)
    • For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
    • Avoid tanning beds. The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organisation place ultraviolet (UV) tanning devices in its group two list of most dangerous cancer-causing substances together with agents such as plutonium, cigarettes and solar UV radiation. Many countries have banned indoor tanning beds especially for young people and South Africa is in the process of doing so too.
    • Examine your skin head-to-toe every month especially if you are one of the 2 to 8% of Caucasians who have inherited dysplastic nevi (atypical moles). People who have them are at increased risk of developing single or multiple melanomas.

 

Sources
Dysplastic nevi (atypical moles). Retrieved from: http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/dysplastic-nevi
Keeping the youth safe from skin cancer. Retrieved from: http://www.cansa.org.za/keeping-the-youth-safe-from-skin-cancer/
Types of skin cancer. Retrieved from: http://www.dermatology.ucsf.edu/skincancer/professionals/types.aspx
www.cancerresearchuk.org
www.skincancer.org

 

Revised by M van Os