Sun Burns and Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a common form of cancer which does show early symptoms and progresses gradually. Sun damages the skin in more ways than one.

Excess exposure to sun allows penetration of UVA and UVB rays into the skin. These rays are extremely harmful to the skin.  The exposure leads to sun burns and it can become cancerous.

Signals to Watch out for

The skin gives enough early signs that must not be ignored. If you have more than 50 moles on your body then you must consult the dermatologist immediately. A mole which has always been flat may become raised suggesting cancerous growth.

A patch of skin that has changed its color such that the shade is not uniform throughout the patch of the skin is another major sign.

If a mole or an unexplained skin patch has grown more than 6 mm in size then it must not be ignored. Moles normally grow in a uniform symmetry. A mole that is growing without it and is growing faster must never be ignored.

Common Types of Skin Cancer due to Sun Burns

Common types of skin cancer due to sun burns are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma

It is the cancer of the cells which lie just below the epidermis layer. This type of cancer easily spreads to other parts of the body but it can be treated if it is diagnosed early.

Characteristic signs of squamous cell carcinoma are that it appears as a lump of skin on scars, ulcerated skin or wounds and may refuse to heal. It will appear rough and raised.

It hardly spreads to other parts of the body and is most easy to treat if diagnosis is done timely. Basal cell carcinoma is often confused with psoriasis or eczema. It is most likely to develop on areas which are commonly exposed to sun like neck, face, hands, arms and ears.

Melanoma

It is the most dangerous type of skin cancer that can even take your life. Although they can develop anywhere on the body but they are most likely to develop nearby a mole. The cells can multiply and spread to other parts of the body.

A major sign is a mole that has changed its color recently.