Who is at Risk for Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is a very serious disease just like any cancer is, but this type of cancer can be avoided in most cases. People wonder what causes skin cancer and how to prevent it. There are several types of skin cancer, but the most common ones come from being over exposed to sunlight, and moles on your skin that become malignant.

Most often, we as a society walk outside our homes and think nothing of the sunlight that is beating down on our skin, it's natural and you can't make the sun go away. True, but there are a few things that can help prevent any UV damage from the sun, it's called Sunblock or Sunscreen. Of course the idea of wearing these all day long is a little extreme, that is why it has been suggested by south-seas.com that you should stay out of the sun as much as possible between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm. If you are planning to go out during these hours, try wearing a hat or find shaded areas whenever you can.

A list of the types of people who are at most risk of skin cancer:

* People who frequent tanning beds and parlors

* Construction Workers who work all day outdoors

* Children who play or sit outdoors often

* Fair Skinned People

* People who lay out in the sun for a tan

Tanning is popular among young adolescents and adults. Getting the perfect tan and keeping it seems to make people feel sexy and attractive, but while they are doing it, they are harming their skin. After constant exposure to the sun for days, weeks, and years, the body can start to develop cancer cells, which mostly appear on the face, hands, arms, and neck. They can start out as a discoloration of the skin, maybe a sore that won't heal, or a scaly patch of skin.

Children are also at a high risk of skin cancer, simply because they spend a great deal of their time outside playing sports and with friends. South-seas.com states that most people have received 80% of their sun exposure by the time they reach the age of 18. Children need sunblock applied more vigorously, since their exposure is very high. Children between the ages of 6 months and up should use a sunblock of an SPF-15 or higher to protect them from UV rays.

Fair skinned people are also at a higher risk. This would mainly include people who have blonde or red hair, and freckles. Fair skin is more susceptible to sun burns than people with a darker skin tone. Using sunblock when going out in the sun for several hours is highly recommended.

Construction workers and lawn care workers are also have a higher risk for skin cancer. Since their job requires many hours of hard work in the sun, sunblock should be like your credit card, don't leave home without it. Since these type of workers perspire a lot, applying the sunblock often is also recommended.

Moles are another issue. There a thousands, if not millions of people around the world that have moles on their body. This would include little brown circles on your skin, or small, brown protruding circles on your skin. In most cases these are not cancerous, but if they show signs of infection or change in size, you need to get them checked out by a dermatologist who can tell you whether or not they are cancerous. You can live with moles on your skin, but you must keep track of them.

Each time you spend time in the sun or receive a sunburn you become at risk for skin cancer. Sun burns early in life can put you at greater risks for skin cancer later in your adult life. Protect yourself and you family from UV rays by using a sunblock, sitting or standing in shaded areas, and wearing hats if you must go out in the sun. Everyone is at risk for skin cancer, but there people at higher risks.

Sources:

http://www.south-seas.com/introto.html#sunburn, An Introduction To Skin Cancer

www.skincancer.org, Skin Cancer Foundation