Skin cancer is a disease that seems to be more common with each passing day. This may be because more research is done on the disease and people have become far more aware of skin cancer now. Or maybe people are getting skin cancer more than they used to because of environmental conditions like the increase in ultraviolet radiation from the sun due to holes in the ozone layer. So what is behind this increase ? This article will discuss what causes skin cancer. The number one skin cancer cause, according to current thinking is being exposed to direct sunlight for a long period of time. Do you remember when people thought of a suntan as a sign of good health ? Well this thinking has largely fallen away now (or at least it should be falling away). You will find in regions in the world where the sun is particularly strong the idea of sun baking yourself every day has been replaced with the need to wear a shirt, hat, eye protection and a 30+ sun protection factor sunscreen. The point is that, although it is nice to sit in the sun from time to time, over exposure to the sun for a long time is a recipe for skin cancer. The extent of over exposure that a person must receive depends largely on their skin type. People that find their skin burning quickly in the sun are at greater risk of skin cancer. Burning could be the skin turning red or even peeling but ultimately the person will feel pain on the burned portions of the skin. And pain is the body telling you that something is wrong. People often ignore the pain because they are having a good time or their work requires them to work in sunny conditions. A person that burns quicker generally has less melanin in the body. Melanin is a substance that produces color or pigmentation in the skin, eyes and hair. So people with less melanin will be characterized by fair hair - blond or red, light colored eyes - blue or green and pale skin. People with no melanin at all have a condition knowns as Albinism. An Albino will have no color in the hair, eyes and skin. Melanin, in effect, protects the skin from skin cancer and melanoma by darkening it. This helps it resist sun burn which is an outward sign of over exposure to sunlight. A lack of melanin leaves a person open to ultra violet radiation from the sun. This is the case with albinos who must be extremely careful in the sun. Being exposed to Ultraviolet radiation is another cause of skin cancer. This may happen in a work environment but is most common in the humble sun bed. The sun bed is a popular way to get a tan all year round but overuse of the bed puts your skin at risk to damage and ultimately skin cancer. In summary, you should protect yourself against ultra violet radiation. This may get to you in many ways, but the most common is exposure to sunlight. If you are in such a position, be it business or pleasure, you should protect your skin using clothing, eye protection and sunscreen.
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