Cancer that is formed in the tissues of the skin is known as Skin Cancer. It is one of the most common kinds of cancer that affects men and women. This cancer affects about a million people every year and there are many factors that cause this including excessive sun exposure, tanning, weak immune systems, etc. Read on to get a complete awareness of this most common form of cancer and on steps to prevent it.
How is skin cancer caused?
When the skin cells modify and multiply in an abnormal fashion, the uncontrollable growth causes the development of a mass known as a tumor. This tumor that occurs in the skin is also known as a lesion and these cancerous growths are malignant in nature which causes the destruction of adjacent cells leading to random growth. These tumors flow through the blood stream and affect other remote organs also during the advanced stages of skin cancer.
Types of skin cancer
Skin cancer is divided into two kinds depending on their ability to spread around. The two types of skin cancer are non-melanoma and melanoma. Non-melanoma includes the type basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in it.
1. Melanoma - The cancer that affects the melanocytes or the skin cells that create the pigments.
2. Basal cell carcinoma - The cancer that affects the lower part of the epidermis or the outer layer of the skin.
3. Squamous cell carcinoma - The cancer that affects the squamous cells or the flat cells that form the skin surface.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma normally do not spread to other parts of the body whereas melanoma is a dangerous form of skin cancer which spreads to other parts of the body. The major ratio and the most common type of skin cancer are the carcinoma types with the aggressive melanoma forming the least portion.
Symptoms of Skin Cancer
The symptoms of skin cancer are skin changes which take time to heal along with ulcers. Sometimes skin discoloration and changes to moles on the skin can also been seen. The most common symptom is a small lump that is shiny and pale in color or a firm red lump. Some types of cancer also are associated with rough and scaly patches or flat scaly patches of red or brown color. Also beware of any new suspicious growth and consult a physician in such cases. Though these growths are most of the times painless, they can also be painful at times.
A smooth round bump is normally developed on the head, shoulder or neck with signs of crusting and bleeding with development of the tumor in cases of basal cell carcinoma. In squamous cell carcinoma, a thick red color patch along with ulcer and bleeding can be developed. Brown or blackish lesions are formed in cases of melanomas. The lesion exhibits change in size, color or shape as a symptom of the melanoma becoming malignant.
Diagnosis of Skin Cancer
This cancer is diagnosed by the physician in two main methods. The first and the most common method is the skin examination. In this method the doctor looks out for any abnormal growth or irregularity in the skin. This can be followed by a biopsy in case of finding any abnormal growth. In case of biopsy, the affected area or abnormal growth is well studied under a microscope to check for the presence of cancerous cells.
Treatment of Skin Cancer
Surgery is one effective method for the treatment of non-melanoma cancer types. The complete procedure of surgical treatment begins with surgery and includes follow-up methods of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In the surgical methods, the lesion and a calculated amount of tissues around it is removed so as to make the body tumor free. The Moh's micrographic surgery is one effective technique that is used for this process.
Prevention of Skin cancer
Early diagnosis and detection can help treat skin cancer before it turns dangerous and hence self evaluation of your skin on a regular basis is a must on a frequent basis. Look for any kind of abnormal changes, discoloration or growth in your skin. You can also undertake a doctor visit once a year to detect any signs or symptoms of cancer. In certain cases of high-risk situations, you can consult a skin specialist on a regular basis to screen for this cancer.
Skin cancer can be prevented by adopting a few basic tips which can be very useful in your daily life.
1. Use Sunscreens - 90% of the skin cancers are known to be caused by harmful UV radiations and sunscreens are the best protector when you are someone who spends a lot of time outdoors. UV rays damage our cell DNA structure and modify them making them cancerous. Minimize outings during the time when the sun is at its brightest. Also try to maintain your presence within the shade where ever possible. But even if you are in a shade, remember to wear your sunscreen,
2. Avoid excessive tanning - Artificial lights as in tanning beds, lamps and booths, all contain UV rays and increase the chances of melanoma.
3. Wear protective dressings - Though sunscreens do protect, you can consider wearing protective dressings like a hat or sunglasses, which can protect your eyes and facial skin from the sun.
4. Avoid childhood sunburns - Most of the times, a burn during your childhood can increase your risk of being affected with skin cancer along the years as you grow. Thus it is required that you monitor kids when they are in the sun reducing their exposure.
5. Eat healthy - A weak immune system is a ready agent for skin cancer. Make sure that you include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables so as to improve your body's immunity power.
People who run a higher risk of Skin cancer
Though many people are equally exposed to the chances of this cancer, there are a few who run a higher risk. Individuals with a family medical history of skin cancer or those who possess fair skin tone and freckles run a higher risk. Also people who are addictive to tanning and spend a lot of hours outdoors in the sun along with a weak immune system also possess equal risks of getting this cancer.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brijesh_Ghelani

Skin Cancer is one of the most common types of cancer with about one in five Americans being affected each year. The incidence of the cancer of the skin has been recorded to have risen over the years with the increase in the level of risk factor and carcinogens in the environment.
Though there are three common form of skin cancer; the Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma and Melanoma, the first two are not very serious and can be treated and cured easily. The third type, Melanoma, the cancer of the melanocyte is the most severe of the lot and causes the most number of skin cancer associated death around the world.
What are the main causes of Skin Cancer?
.Exposure to sun
The number one cause of skin cancer is the over exposure to the Ultra Violet rays of the sun or any other sources. The time of exposure, the intensity of the UV rays and whether or not the skin was protected (with clothes or anti sun creams) all decides the chance of getting skin cancer in the long run.
.White skin
White skinned people are more prone to cancer of the skin than the darker skinned ones, and the difference comes due to the level of naturally occurring sun protecting pigment in the skin; melanin. Melanin pigment which is high in dark skin protects it from the harmful rays of the sun thus saving it from cancer. But dark skinned men too, do have a chance of the disease though comparatively less.
.Exposure to carcinogen
Certain chemicals like arsenic, tar, nicotine and oil are found to elevate the change of getting skin cancer. Though these come under skin carcinogen, only long term exposure is found to trigger the disease in many cases.
.Family history'
The genetic makeup and the family history can also contribute to the occurrence of skin cancer. Having someone in the family affected with skin cancer increases the chance of getting the disease.
Besides all these risk factors, there are still many factors that might cause skin cancer or elevate the chance of it.
How can skin cancer be treated?
There are a number of approaches to treat skin cancer depending on the severity of the disease and where it has affected. Early and proper diagnosis of the disease helps to treat it better and more effectively. The different approach towards effective treatment includes
.Surgery
Non melanomas cancer or tumour can be completely removed by different surgical approaches being followed today. Cryosurgery, simple excision, dermabrasion, laser surgery are among the surgical techniques that effectively removes the cancerous skin tissue.
.Chemotherapy
Inter venal or oral chemotherapeutic treatment targeted specifically on the cancerous cells can treat the cancer by either killing the cells or arresting their cell division capability. Cancer of the skin is also sometimes treated by applying the chemotherapeutic medicine on the affected skin in the form or creams or ointments.
.Radiation Therapy
The two forms, external or the internal radiation therapy may be used for the treatment depending on the type of cancer. Depending on the type of skin cancer and how much it had advanced, either form of the therapy is chosen.
.Photodynamic therapy
This is a more novel method to treat cancer and has little effect on the normal healthy tissue. Here photoactive drugs are given to the patient and these drugs specifically bind to the skin cells which are cancerous. When laser light is shone on the patients affected areas, the drug becomes active and kills off the diseased cells leaving of the normal cells.
What are the effects of Skin cancer treatment?
Different approaches towards the treatment of skin cancer have proven to be very effective in removing the tumour and controlling the cancerous growth. But as in every other cancer treatment, these treatment too comes with a few side effects.
Surgical removal of the cancerous tissue in the skin can result in a lifelong scar on the body. and sometimes even an expert surgeon cannot assure a cent percent zero scar removal of the cancer.
Chemotherapeutic treatment using creams and ointments can cause inflammation in the area of application. The inflammations caused in some people are so severe that they might have to discontinue the medication and switch to other treatment scheme. Chemotherapy can also cause nausea, vomiting and hair loss in the patients undergoing the treatment.
But after all the patent will be in gain undergoing the right cancer treatment on time, coz it will get rid of the most serious problem of all 'Cancer', set aside the smaller side effects coming with it.

Knowing how to prevent skin cancer is usually not on anyone's mind until they have it. When that happens the ways to prevent skin cancer don't matter so much; it becomes a matter of how to get rid of it. Believe me; you don't want to arrive at that point.
So let's back up and look at what causes skin cancer and can it be prevented?
Having had it myself, my personal opinion is yes, in most cases it can definitely be prevented, even if you're a person considered to be at high risk.
High risk would mean you have a history of it in your family, you have light skin, blue eyes, red hair, lots of freckles, have been severely sunburned or consistently OVEREXPOSED to ultraviolet rays.
Learning how to prevent skin cancer or any disease is something that should begin early in life by eating healthy and taking control over your own health.
Some people are born with high risks. These can be compensated for by healthy eating and building a strong immune system.
Other risks you are not born with. You, and only you, have complete control over this! Parents know about sunburn and should know about how much sun exposure is beneficial and when it become damaging.
There's a lot to be learned here, but you can keep it simple by saying, eating whole foods, exercising and using good sense in the sun plays a major role in preventing this disease.
So here are some specific guidelines on how to prevent skin cancer:
• Take control of your own health, teach and help your children and those around you to do the same.
• Eat only whole foods such as grains, vegetables and fruits
• Avoid processed food, cereals, sugar, high fructose corn syrup and questionable chemical ingredients, to name a few
• Be sure to be getting a good source of vitamins and minerals. If you get very little sun exposure, be sure to eat vitamin D foods
• Supplement as needed, but be sure your supplements are from a whole food source
• Limit your sun exposure to 10 to 30 minutes, after that you should protect yourself
• Never allow yourself to sunburn
• Use a safe sunscreen without questionable, toxic ingredients
• Use sun protective clothing like wide brim hats and long sleeves
It is much better and less stressful to follow the simple practices above on how to prevent skin cancer than it is to be facing invasive treatments. If skin cancer goes undetected and progresses to a higher, more dangerous stage, then the battle can be tough and the effects long lasting.
Taking care of your own health pays off better than any other health care plan available.
There's more information on my site and if you happen to be already experiencing cancer of the skin at any stage, please tell you story on my site for the benefit of helping others deal with theirs.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_H_Harmon  

One of the main causes of vitamin D deficiency would be a lack of sufficient exposure to the sunlight.
Many suffer from a lack of vitamin D for this reason. This vitamin often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin" can also be obtained from other sources such as foods rich in vitamin D or through dietary supplementation.
But let's face it, how many people really have knowledge of what foods to eat for vitamin D or any other vitamins and minerals?
Avoiding the sun for fear of cancer could be a large mistake, especially if you are avoiding it completely.
Doctors of natural medicine throughout the country recommend that children and adults need far more than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) set by the food and drug administration (FDA) for optimum health.
In actuality, avoiding the sun and creating a deficiency could be playing a factor in what causes skin cancer as well as other cancers and chronic disease.
In order to avoid the causes of vitamin D deficiency one needs to be concerned about nutrition throughout the year. There's no difference between the importance of vitamin D than the importance's of any other necessary nutrients in our body. Any deficiency of any nutrient results in a weakening of the immune system.
So how do you avoid these causes of deficiency?
When it comes to vitamin D, start by not being afraid of the sun and most importantly on the other hand, never overdo it. Moderation is your key. Think in terms of 5-30 minutes of exposure.
Personally, I limit my time unprotected to a very short time because I have had stage 3 skin cancer and have received heavy radiation treatments. That makes me more vulnerable. For those of you in generally better condition at less risk, it's OK to go longer, but I'll always stress don't overdo it and never sunburn.
As the four seasons change, so may you have to change your source of vitamin D. You still need it all throughout the year.
In the summer the sun is the best source, just remember to use a good sunscreen and protective clothing when you have to be in it longer than you should.
Spring, fall and winter, eat as many vitamin D rich foods that you can and take a good whole food vitamin D supplement daily or as needed. Find a good quality whole food multivitamin and mineral supplement. You do need all of your vitamins.
I pinpoint vitamin D because avoiding the sun in fear of skin cancer is one of the biggest causes of vitamin D deficiency.
You'll find more information about vitamin D and skin cancer on my website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_H_Harmon