It’s just a spot. A small mole increases the beauty of a pretty face. A tiny hairy mole doesn’t hurt anyone.
Be it any of the aforementioned excuses you have on mind but sometimes these tiny moles and spots may turn out to be the reason behind skin cancer. And as far as the treatment procedure of skin cancer concerns, the effective treatment is the one done at the right time. Since knowledge is the best course of action against skin cancer, let us find out all the small and big details on the types of cancer and its cure.
Polka Dots (nevi)- one of the leading causes of skin cancer in Melbourne:
Often the dysplastic nevi or polka dots are hereditary. If you have relatives with dysplastic nevi, you have a 50% chance of contracting them. It is estimated that the risk of developing melanoma in the course of life varies between 6-10% for people with dysplastic nevi, according to age, family history, number of dysplastic nevi and other factors.
The congenital melanocytic nevi are moles that are present at birth. The average risk of developing melanoma over the course of life is around 6%. The risk is affected by the size of the congenital nevus, being higher for the larger sized nevi in white skin with freckles and light hair. In such cases, family background, excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and sunburn also increase the probability factor. While there is no scientific evidence to show that periodic skin examinations in people without a history are beneficial, it is reasonable, because it involves a little cost to perform a skin examination by the attending physician in order to detect the risk or injuries.
In those people who are at risk such as those with a family or personal history of skin tumours or with numerous dysplastic nevi, an annual mole mapping or skin examination should be performed.
It is necessary to remember that people should be advised to take care of the sun to reduce the risk of developing skin tumours. In addition, excessive exposure to the sun produces spots and wrinkles of the skin that affect its appearance. The people with the greatest sensitivity to the sun are children who must be protected especially during the summer.
Pigmentation and Melanoma, another contributing factor behind skin cancer in Melbourne:
Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare hereditary disease that results from a defect mechanism that repairs some DNA damage. Those who suffer from it, having less ability to repair DNA damage caused by sunlight, can get cancers on the exposed areas of their skin.
Sunlight is the main source of ultraviolet radiation. The lamps and tanning beds are other sources. People who expose themselves excessively to light from these sources have an increased risk of getting skin cancer, including melanoma. Intense and intermittent exposures are more associated with the risk of melanoma than chronic and mild exposures.
The risk of getting melanoma is higher if one or several relatives of the first degree of the person has a diagnosis of melanoma. Approximately 10% of all people with melanoma have a family history of this disease.
People with these characteristics and those who expose themselves to sunburn and rarely tan or freckles easily have an especially high risk.
A nevus (medical name of the mole) is a benign (non-cancerous) melanocytic tumour. Usually, the moles are not present at the time of birth but begin to appear in childhood and adolescence. Certain types of moles increase a person’s chances of getting melanoma.
Solar screens for Protection against skin cancer in Melbourne:
- Sunlight has two types of harmful radiation: ultraviolet rays type A and B. Both types cause skin cancer and burns. The UVB that is blocked by the glass while the UVA does not. A good sunscreen protects against UVB. For complete shield against sun, you have to buy sunscreen that contains some element of protection against UVA as well. That is the sunscreen you buy must be broad spectrum.
- It is advisable to use factors 15 or more for proper protection. In the high protection factors, the proportionality of the blockade is not maintained. For example, a factor of 30 blocks 97% of ultraviolet radiation, while factor 15 blocks 93%.
- The sunscreen must contain PABA (acid for amino benzoic acid) in one of its forms. People who are allergic to PABA should choose alternative compounds such as cinnamates, salicylates or benzophenones. You can get sunscreens in various forms: creams, gels, oils, etc. All screens must be applied several times because they tend to get lost over time: those that are resistant to water should be applied every 2 hours when you get out of the water or after perspiring a lot. The gels must be reapplied more frequently.
- All people who are exposed to the sun for more than 20 minutes must resort to everyday use of sunscreen. The sun is reflected in the sand and in the snow. Therefore, the screen should be used even when the exposure is indirect. Although, you have to respect a short period of exposure without a screen because light activates vitamin D of the skin, which is very important for bones.
For any further query on skin cancer or a quick consultation, visit us at www.nitai.com.au.
