skin cancer types Prevention Symptoms treatment

People should notify their doctor if they notice any unusual or changed skin marks. Routine skin examination is done by doctors or by people examining their own skin, or both.

Because many skin cancers seem to be related to UV exposure, doctors recommend a number of measures to limit UV exposure, starting in early childhood.

 1Avoiding the sun: For example, seeking shade, minimizing outdoor activities between 10 AM and 4 PM (when the sun’s rays are strongest), and avoiding sunbathing and the use of tanning beds

2Wearing protective clothing: For example, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and broad-brimmed hats

3Using sunscreen: At least sun protection factor (SPF) 30 with UVA and UVB protection used as directed and reapplied every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating but not used to prolong sun exposure

4 Doctors do not know whether these measures reduce the chances of people developing or dying of melanoma. However, sun protection does decrease the risk of developing basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, and using tanning beds, particularly by young people, does seem to increase the risk of melanoma.

Symptoms

Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. But it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day — your palms, beneath your fingernails or toenails, and your genital area.

Skin cancer affects people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions. When melanoma occurs in people with dark skin tones, it's more likely to occur in areas not normally exposed to the sun, such as the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

 TREATMENT