xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nayOne of the most important - and easiest - things you can do to reduce your cancer risk is to protect your skin from UV radiation.
UV rays are the part of sunlight that causes skin cancer and skin aging. Tanning beds also emit UV radiation. Tanning beds cause the same skin damage as the sun.
You can protect your skin from damaging UV rays by following these steps:
- Avoid going outdoors between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun's rays are strongest.
- Do not use tanning beds.
- If you are outdoors, seek shade.
- Use sunscreen and lip balm with at least SPF 30. Apply liberally at least 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.
- Cover up. Wear dark, tightly woven clothing. Pick a hat with a large brim to protect your ears and neck.
- Wear sunglasses with both UVA and UVB protection.
- Use extra caution if you are near water, snow or sand. They can reflect and amplify the sun's rays.
A sunburn is not the same as when you burn your skin on something hot.
“When we think of a burn, we think of heat. But it’s not the sun’s heat that burns our skin,” says Saira George, M.D., an MD Anderson Cancer Center dermatologist.
That’s why you can still get sunburned when the weather is cold.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nay“Sunburns are from ultraviolet radiation – or UV rays – causing damage to the skin,” George says.
How your skin changes during a sunburn
When ultraviolet radiation from the sun reaches the skin, it damages the skin cells and causes mutations in their DNA.
“Our bodies have a lot of amazing mechanisms to prevent and even correct these mutations,” George says. “But if the skin cells get more UV exposure than they can handle, the damage may be beyond repair, and the cells die off. Blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow and bring immune cells to the skin to help clean up the mess. All this causes the redness, swelling and inflammation we associate with a sunburn.”
The sunburn will eventually heal, but some of the surviving cells will have mutations that escape repair. These cells could eventually become cancerous.
Can you reverse sun damage?
Some beauty products claim they can reverse sun damage or even stimulate cell repair. But no research has shown that any topical skin care product or lotion can reverse sun damage.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nay“There’s no simple way to undo sun damage yet,” George says. “But there are lots of simple ways to prevent it by being sun-safe and avoiding sunburns.”
Tanning beds
Tanning bed use, or indoor tanning, was once considered a safe and convenient way to get a tan. However, indoor tanning is now recognized by health care experts as a dangerous practice that sharply increases a person’s risk for skin cancer.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nayThe younger a person is when they begin using tanning beds, the greater their risk for skin cancer. Starting indoor tanning before age 18 increases melanoma risk by 85%. Starting between ages 18 and 24 increases melanoma risk by 91%.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nayTo protect yourelf from skin cancer and premature aging, avoid tanning bed use.
Skin cancer
Skin cancerxsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nay is the most common cancer in the United States. It's also one of the most preventable. The primary cause is exposure to UV rays from the sun or tanning beds.
People of all skin colors can develop skin cancer. It's one of the easiest cancers to detect and most types are highly curable.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nayRisk factors for skin cancer include:
- A history of frequent or intense sun exposure
- Tanning bed use
- One or more blistering sunburns
- Red or blond hair, fair skin, freckles and blue or light-colored eyes
- More than 50 moles
- A family history of melanoma
- A personal history of melanoma
- A personal history of basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers
If you fall into one or more of these categories, talk to your doctor about getting a skin cancer screening exam.
Skin cancer screening exams are the best way to catch melanoma and other skin cancers early, when they’re easiest to treat.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nayIf you’re at increased risk for skin cancer, you may need an annual skin cancer screening exam. You may be at increased risk if you have:
- Red or blond hair, fair skin, freckles and blue or light-colored eyes
- More than 50 moles
- History of frequent or intense sun exposure
- One or more blistering sunburns
- Family history of melanoma
- Personal history of basal cell and/or squamous cell skin cancers
Even if you aren’t at increased risk, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your skin. If you notice an irregular mole or spot, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist for a diagnostic exam.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nayWe talked to Patricia Andon, a patient at MD Anderson’s Cancer Prevention Center, about what to expect during a skin cancer exam.
Scheduling a skin cancer screening
Patricia was on vacation when she first noticed a spot on her leg. The skin in the area was starting to change quickly and becoming red and irritated.
She knew that changes on her skin, especially new spots or changing moles, could be skin cancer symptoms. As a child, she lost a family friend to melanoma, and that experience stayed with her. She knew she needed to see a dermatologist.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nay“I scheduled an appointment for as soon as we returned,” she says. She called MD Anderson Cancer Center, where she used work in Information Services.
During the appointment
When Patricia arrived at her appointment, she was asked to change into a hospital gown so her dermatologist could examine her entire body. Skin cancer can occur anywhere, including the scalp, the mouth, the soles of your feet and the genital area. That’s why it’s important for your dermatologist to make a thorough examination.
The doctor looked at her skin from head to toe, looking for signs of skin cancers. Most skin cancers fall into one of these three categories:
- Basal cell: a slow-growing cancer that seldom spreads, signaled by an irregular spot on the skin
- Squamous cell: more likely to spread, but much less common. Also starts as an irregular spot or patch of skin
- Melanoma: makes up only 2 percent of cancers, but is the most aggressive. It starts with an irregular mole.
Patricia shared the spot that was concerning her. The doctor examined it and assured her it was nothing to worry about. It was dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin. She wrote Patricia a prescription that she was able to fill that day.
“The whole examination took no more than 10 minutes,” she says.
Next steps
Fortunately, Patricia did not have any suspicious spots or moles. But sometimes dermatologists find spots on the skin that they may be concerned about.
When a dermatologist finds a suspicious mole or patch during a skin examxsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nay, he or she will determine whether it’s best to monitor it or remove it. It may even be documented with photos so patients can keep up with any changes.
If the mole or spot does need to be removed, the patient could have it done that day or schedule another appointment. This may require one or two small stiches.
xsmb kết quả xổ số miền bắc hôm nayThen, a biopsy will be performed on the skin sample. The patient will get the results in the next couple of weeks, along with follow-up instructions from the doctor.
Patricia plans to return to her dermatologist next month for a follow-up appointment.
“Now I’m not nervous about going back because I know exactly what to expect,” she says.
Request an appointment at MD Anderson's Lyda Hill Cancer Prevention Center online or call 877-632-6789.
