What Is The Cause Of Skin Cancer

by Adrian Fletcher

Skin cancers develop when the body is exposed to too much ultraviolet radiation (UV rays). Some of the DNA in the skin cells that are exposed to UV rays begin to mutate. They become known as oncogenes that instruct the cell to grow haphazardly.
If these cells are not destroyed by the immune system they will develop into cancerous growths. You can be exposed to UV rays in many ways but the most common way is by exposure to the Sun.
However, some people can be exposed to sunlight more than others and never appear to develop skin cancers. It seems that some people are more sensitive to the ultraviolet radiation than others (although too much exposure to the sun will result in skin cancer for most people eventually). This is true and is based on the amount of melanin in the body. Melanin is the body’s natural defense against the sun. It turns the skin brown as a way prevent it from burning. This is the tan that many people cultivate.
People with pale skin, fair or red hair and light colored eyes have less melanin than people with darker complexions. They are more sensitive to the sun. Their skin will most likely burn than go grown in the sun. Sunburned skin is painful but it is also an indication that your skin has been exposed to too much UV rays. Prolonged exposure to the sun or constant sunburn will facilitate the development of skin cancer.
Another factor that can increase the chances of developing skin cancer is any family history of the disease.
The effects of skin cancer can vary. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It will often look like a mark on the skin that could be brown or red. It may be raised from the skin or flat to begin with. It generally doesn’t spread and is considered to be a benign cancer. It can appear anywhere on the body but mainly on areas that are directly exposed to the sunlight.
Squamous cell carcinoma is also found on parts of the body that come into contact with sunlight. This form of skin cancer is more likely to spread than basal cell carcinoma but it generally only spreads to the surrounding skin cells. Often the blemish or mark will look brown or red. This mark will get bigger over time as more cells become cancerous. It can also become scaly and develop scabs.
Melanoma is the third form of skin cancer. It is rare but potentially serious. It doesn’t always appear on areas of the body directly exposed to sunlight but can be in unusual places, like the feet, that may rarely come into contact with sunlight. Again, it might look like a red or brown blemish or spot initially. As it develops it may develop into a lump under the skin.
Melanoma is the most likely form of skin cancer to turn malignant. It can grow at a rapid and uncontrollable rate throughout the body. It can grow through tissue and organs. It can get so large that it affects many of the functions in the body.
If melanoma spreads throughout the body it can be very hard to treat.
The best way to guard against skin cancer is to limit your exposure to sunlight and protect your skin when in the sun. Also monitor any unusual skin blemishes or lesions or unusual lumps. Get your skin checked out from time to time by a skin specialist. Avoid other things that can expose you to UV rays.
About the Author:
Learn how to identify the common symptoms of skin cancer and the different types of skin cancers