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Protect skin from UV exposure By Melissa Kanz More than 1 million new skin cancer cases will be diagnosed in the United States this year, a number that continues to rise due to increasing exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, tanning beds and sun lamps, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Healthy skin tips. “... Although a small amount of sunlight is necessary, overexposure to UV rays is a dominant factor for skin cancer,” dermatologist Lori Honeycutt, visiting specialist at Johns Community Clinic, said. Honeycutt said the three most common types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type but tends to spread only locally and not metastasize - spread to other areas - or grow, she said. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type and it can, though not frequently, metastasize. Melanoma is the third most common and deadliest of the three types because it metastasizes more readily. Malignant melanoma, if not detected early, is often fatal and the number of cases are rising. There will be an estimated 38,300 cases and 7,300 deaths in the United States this year, the FDA reports. Honeycutt said it is important to always protect yourself from the sun. “The sun gives off three types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA, UVB and UVC,” she said. “UVA radiation, due to its longer wavelength, penetrates deeper into your skin and accounts for aging of the skin. It is not filtered by the glass in your car. UVB radiation, with its shorter wavelength, is responsible for sunburns and is filtered by the glass in your car. UVC is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere and doesn't harm the skin. Not very long ago, we were most concerned with UVB. Now it is known that UVA is also important to consider.” Honeycutt said there is an easy way to remember the types of UV radiation. “Remember A for aging and B for burning,” she said. “Both UVA and UVB can cause skin damage, including wrinkles and leathery skin, decreased immunity against infections and skin cancer. Some possible mechanisms for damage are collagen breakdown, formation of free radicals and poor DNA repair,” she said. Since skin aging and cancer are delayed effects from exposure to the sun, most young people don't realize the risks until many years later since the damage is not immediately visible. Physicians and scientists are especially concerned that cases of skin cancer will continue to increase as people who are now in their teens and 20s reach middle age, the FDA said. People who choose to tan are at greater risk of developing skin cancer, especially those who tan over a period of years. “The damage is cumulative. There are changes that occur in the tissue architecture, matrix composition, vascular structure and function and cellular activities. These things take time to express themselves outwardly,” Honeycutt said. There are signs people can look for to find out if they have skin damage from the sun. “The first two immediate signs of damage are a suntan or a sunburn. A tan is the body's way of producing pigment in an attempt to protect the deeper layers of skin. With a sunburn, there is cell death, and the damaged skin may actually peel away to make room for new skin cells,” she said. “Although the red and brown colors fade, the damage and the increased risk for skin cancer stays. The more common red flags include scaly pink spots in sun-exposed areas, a lesion that comes and goes or just won't heal, or a change in the appearance of a mole.” Honeycutt said other signs of more chronic sun damage include thickening of skin or deep wrinkles on the neck and face, “liver spots,” thin translucent skin on arms, freckles on the face and shoulders, and white spots on arms and legs. “If you develop a scaly spot or a sore that just won't heal, or a mole that changes size, color, or shape, these are red flags,” she said. Honeycutt said people should get skin check-ups from a dermatologist as well as perform their own examinations on a regular basis. “One should use a hand mirror to examine one's own skin regularly and monitor for signs of changes. If you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, exams should occur more frequently,” she said. Honeycutt said complete elimination of exposure to the sun is not the goal. “A small amount of sun is needed for the body to manufacture Vitamin D but much less than it takes to get a tan,” she said. Honeycutt said preventative measures can reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. She said Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer and she likes the slogan for the preventative campaign they have adopted - Slip, Slop, Slap. Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat. “It's not about hiding from the sun and not enjoying what life has to offer, but rather being sun smart about how you interact with your surroundings,” she said.
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