It’s astonishing that skin cancer is one of the most common cancers and readily preventable. Alas, this is why skin cancer is so common, and many people with it don’t check for indicators of the disease, mistaking changes for normal skin reactions to numerous stimuli. It is well established that quick identification improves treatment and may save lives. Knowing the indications, risk factors, and ways to protect the skin will help you battle skin cancer.
dry or scaly skin, changes in skin colour, is majorly caused by the uncontrolled division of cells in the skin. The three types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanomas with the last being the most dangerous. Although skin cancer can develop in anyone, certain factors cause the development of skin cancer such as exposure to uv radiation, having a white or light-colored skin, which is why skin check ups are important because people who are most vulnerable to skin cancer should ensure they conduct regular skin check ups.
It must be mentioned, though, that the odds turn much more favorable if it is diagnosed in its early stage. For example, Melanoma’s five-year survival rate if it’s diagnosed early is just about 99 percent but if the cancer has advanced it drastically reduces. Daily self examination of skins assists the person to note any changes in their skins or the emergence of new growths on the skin, which requires the attention of a doctor. Such an approach can be of great benefit since the difference between a simple excision and complicated procedures such as chemotherapy or radiation are at stake.
The other key factor in diagnosis and checking for skin cancer is education. Some individuals maybe do not know what to search for or maybe they just do not know how to go about a skin self examination. One needs to learn about the ABCDEs of melanoma which stands for Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Colour variation, Diameter larger than 6 millimetres and Evolving characteristics. Also self-checks can be use as complements to professional skin exams by a dermatologist for individuals with multiple skin check points or any other risk factors associated with skin diseases. This increases the probability of detecting the skin cancer at an early stage since the dermatologists have the skills in identifying features of the lesions which may not be observed by other doctors.
The involvement of the technological aspect in the detection of skin cancer has also expanded over the last few years as support for patients and medical practitioners. Applications on phones and wearable device offer timely prompts for checking changes in skin over time, self-reminders of when to check the skin, as well as providing algorithms for automated assessment of moles and lesions. Although these tools are not intended to replace healthcare professional’s advice, they can be very helpful to act as reference tools. With the advancement in technology, the skins check is likely to become even more frequent and easier and many people will readily develop a habit of having their skin checked often.
Reduced incidences of skin complications is another aspect that makes skin self examination necessary due to precaution measures that are involved. Through a regular skin check-up, the persons also become conscious about how their skin behaves under different conditions or with exposure to the sun. It can result in safer sun protective behaviours like the proper use of the sun lotion every day, protective clothing and staying away from extremely hot periods of the day. These preventative measures are usally very helpful in long run to minimizing the possibility of developing skin cancer helping in skin health.
