Skin cancers are most caused due to long-term or short period of intense exposure to the sun.
Spending enough time in the suns is healthy as it helps with vitamin D concentrations and calcium fixation, but time spent in the sun should be safe as continued exposure to UV light may increase people's risk of developing skin cancer.
It is therefore crucial to remember to always bring sun screen, a hat and an umbrella along for a Sunday beach adventure, according to Wall Street Hedge.
While sun exposure leads to a golden complexion, it causes accelerated aging at the same time. Women who accurately protect their skin from UV light may have complexion of girls half their age.
How To Pick A Perfect Sun Screen
The market is flooded with a slew of sunblock and sunscreen options, but most of these products offer only seven percent protection for skin from the sun's rays. According to Dermatologists, skin is affected to great extent by cancer-causing rays, of which Infrared A form 30 percent.
One of the chief effects of ultraviolet light is elastic damage. Elastic fibers called elastin break down and in time, skin becomes saggy and stretchy.
According to consultant dermatologist Dr. Hextall, "You can protect against four times of the sun's damaging rays with Infrared-A protection."
Several skin changes that people think of as a normal part of aging, is actually caused by sun exposure.
Moreover, the skin bruises and tears more easily and takes longer to heal. This implies that sun damage to the skin though may not be obvious while young, it will surely show later in life, The Spectrum noted.
Among other changes, sun exposure causes skin changes including precancerous and cancerous skin lesions; benign tumors; wrinkles; freckles; mottled pigmentation; sallowness; telangiectasias (dilation of small blood vessels under the skin), and elastosis, which refers to the destruction of the elastic tissue.
Greater issues involving skin cancers are emerging. Over 3.5 million of skin cancer is diagnosed yearly in the US alone. The most common types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
Dermatologists across the world are discussing whether the evident epidemic of skin cancers is not only reflective of the better diagnosis measures adapted in recent years. Skin cancer screening, Dr. Earl Glusac explains, may account for the increase in cases over the past several years.
Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas affect the outermost layers of the skin, particularly those which have been exposed frequently to UV light such as ears, nose, face, lips or even backs. These are curable in cases where they are diagnosed early enough, and they hardly spread or metastasize to other parts of the body.
"Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common and 90 percent of the cases are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation."
Melanoma starts in the skin's pigment producing cells called melanocytes, and does not compulsorily occur on sun-exposed areas and may appear in other parts of the body such as eyes, the mouth, and the nails.
Melanoma, on the other hand metastasize early and becomes hard to treat the longer a patient waits to seek medical attention. Nevertheless, it is curable if diagnosed early enough
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher as one important part of complete sun protection procedure, since the inception in 1979.
Look for the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM.
Avoid tanning and avoid using UV tanning beds.
Cover up with clothing, such as a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. A water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher is recommended for extended outdoor activity.
Wait 30 minutes before going outside, always apply 1 ounce i.e. 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to entire body. Reapply every two hours or right after swimming or excessive sweating.
Sunscreens should be used on babies over the age of six months. It's recommended to keep newborns out of the sun.
Most importantly, examine skin head-to-toe every month.
