What Causes Skin Cancer?

What causes skin cancer? What are the risks for the 3 types of skin cancer, especially melanoma? How important is it to learn and understand them?

It is extremely important because the disease has become one of the most common types today, of which melanoma is the deadliest form.

This is sad as many of the reasons that led to this type of tumor are causes that are avoidable.

Known Risks for Skin Cancer

This is the number one risk factor. Not using a good sunscreen or sunblock lotion and clothing to protect you is like inviting the 3 types of skin cancer especially melanoma to develop in you.

If you live near the equator, UVA and UVB rays from the sun are more intense and can cause more damage to your skin.

Overexposure to UVA and UVB rays

Basically, the dangerous effects of ultraviolet radiation are the primary causes of melanoma.

If you loved getting a tan by basking under the sun and you were doing it since you were a teen, you have definitely done a lot of damage to your skin.

The 3 types of skin cancer particularly melanoma develop after 20 to 30 years of continuous overexposure to the sun.


Exposure to UVA and UVB in tanning booths and sunlamps

People used to think that only the sun emits harmful radiation. Those who wanted to have a tan but didn't wish to sunbathe to avoid the sun chose to get their tan from tanning booths and sunlamps. They are unaware that it is also what causes skin cancer especially the development of melanoma.

According to the World Health Organization, tanning beds are definitely harmful. They even made a recommendation of banning those below 18 years of age from using those beds.

In July 2009, the International Agency on Research for Cancer classified tanning beds as one of the Class I carcinogens just like tobacco. The use of tanning beds raises the risk for...

• different types of skin cancers -- especially squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma, and

• severe eye injury.

According to the Harvard Publications on Women's Health Watch, tanning beds pose same skin cancer risks as tanning in the sun.

Misuse or Abuse of Glutathione

Glutathione is a liver supplement whose side-effect is to suppress melanin production. Many people who want to be fairer take this supplement not necessarily for their liver's health but to get a fairer complexion. Some even overdose on it to get results faster.

They might be ignorant of the fact that melanin is their skin's first natural defense against the harmful rays of the sun. Suppressing the melanin makes the skin more sensitive and damage prevention more difficult.

Possession of Fair Complexion

What are the disadvantages about having fair skin?

Fair-complexioned people are at a higher risk to develop melanoma.

What causes skin cancer in fair skin? Less production of melanin does. Darker complexion has more melanin. The incidence of tumor cases is lower in dark skinned people. Plus fairer skin does not tan. It just burns.

Now that you know what the risks are, prevention of skin cancer particularly melanoma becomes easier. All it takes is common sense.

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