*******Sunburn and Skin Cancer********* One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a persons chances of developing melanoma later in life. A persons risk for melanoma also doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns at any age. Whats the harm in sunburn? A persons risk for melanoma--the most serious form of skin cancer--doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns. Unfortunately, getting sunburned is much more common that it ought to be. In a recent survey conducted in partnership with iVillage, The Skin Cancer Foundation learned that 42 percent of people polled get a sunburn at least once a year. Lets look at how sun exposure relates to skin cancer. The two most common non melanoma skin cancers, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), are directly correlated with sun accumulation over many years. Indeed, the most common locations for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma tumors are sun-exposed areas: the face, ears, hands, etc. (However, it is not unheard of for a basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma to appear on a non-sun-exposed area of the body.) Melanoma is different. The sun exposure pattern believed to result in melanoma is that of brief, intense exposure - a blistering sunburn - rather than years of tanning. (Some studies now indicate that basal cell carcinoma also may be triggered by this exposure pattern.) Other risk factors are also associated with melanoma, such as a family history, skin type and having a large number of sizable moles on the body. Like non melanoma skin cancer, melanoma can arise on any area of the body, regardless of whether or not a sunburn occurred in that location. The lesson? Simple: do not burn. ***********PLEASE SHARE***************
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 13:38:32 +0000
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