When I went shopping the other day at the local store, I was taken in
by the hair coloring of the clerk. It was beautiful , with a dark base
and a natural -looking streaks, just as if the sun touched only her
alone. I told her this and we promptly struck a conversation which
largely centers on our younger days when we rarely use hair dyes.
All we do then was spray SunIn on our hair and stay out in the sun for
an hour or at most two. The dialogue inevitably shifted to how that
practice is practically impossible now, thanks to the depletion of the
ozone layer to such an extent that there is virtually no screen between
the earth and the harsh and sometimes fatal rays of the sun.
I know am boring you stiff with unnecessary tales, as this should be a
platform for information about skin cancer. But the little narration
does hold some evidence against chemicals in health and beauty
products, and it certainly describes the lethal effect of the sun rays
as a potential cause of our subject. But since none of us are trained
medical practioners, experts or specialists, our information on the
forms of skin cancer will be restricted to the bare essentials.
Basically, only three forms of skin cancer are known : Basal Cell
Carcinoma, which is also known as non-melanoma skin cancer, Squamous
Cell Carcinoma, and Melanoma.
Cancerous cells known as melanoma grow in the melanocytes, which are
the cells that are responsible for skin pigmentation. The University of
Maryland and other reputable experts rates melanoma as the rarest and
the most virulent of all forms of skin cancer. People with fair skin,
light hair, and light eyes have an appreciable amount of these cells,
though it can be present in people with other complexions too.
Indeed experts asserted that folks with dark brown and black skin are
not exempted. The clear symptoms to look out for include a mole
changing color, its size, shape or state-- if it starts bleeding, or
moles that are either itchy, hard, lumpy, swollen or tender when
touched.
The onset of Squamous cell carcinoma commonly starts as a scaly patch
of skin that appears to be red. they can also be in form of nodules.
Amongst the three forms of skin cancer, Squamous, which affects
Caucasians is the second most popular and appears either on the ear
rims, face, lips or mouths.
Basal Cell Carcinoma is another form of skin cancer and usually begins
as a small fleshy nodule, and it frequently appear on the head, neck,
or hands. Basal cell carcinoma which also typically affects Caucasians,
is the most virulent form in the U.S amongst the three forms of skin
cancer. It is estimated that it accounts for 90% of the victims.
My mother had the bad fortune of having the second of the most common
form of skin cancer right on her lip. Initially she was teased that it
was herpes. But she figured out quickly that it was what is known as a
sun blister, and she was even faster in consulting with a specialist.
That surely is cheerful news, which will give you hope as you wail the
days lost picnicking, swimming, and bathing under the sun.
