Skin cancer: avoidance of solar radiation is basic

Every June 13 is the European Day for the Prevention of Skin Cancer, a disease whose prevalence is increasing year by year and whose main cause is ultraviolet radiation, i.e. exposure to sunlight.

Skin cancer is a skin pathology caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight in an individual with a certain predisposition. The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanomas.

Causes of skin cancer

“The main cause of the three types of skin cancer is ultraviolet radiation,” says Dr. Vicente Leis Dosil, director of the Idelia Clinic and specialist in skin cancer and dermatological surgery. However, it should be noted that, although solar radiation is the cause of this cancer, there is a different pattern of sun exposure in each of them. On the one hand, squamous cell carcinoma is related to chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation, i.e., many over time, which accumulates. On the other hand, basal cell carcinoma and a large part of melanomas are caused by intense and punctual exposures.

In turn, according to Dr. Leis, there are a number of risk factors for people who may suffer from carcinoma. Some of them would be:

  • Fair skin. Light eyes, blond or red hair.
  • Family or personal history
  • Immunosuppression
  • Atypical and irregular nevi

Prevention and its importance

Dr. Agustín Viera Ramírez, specialist in Dermatology, assures that, with regard to the prevention of skin cancer, there is “an advantage and a disadvantage”.

  • The disadvantage is simple: skin cancer does not hurt.
  • The advantage, and it is worth noting that it is a great advantage, is that the skin is completely visible, and it is easy to notice a new lesion, a change in shape, size or color of a previous one.
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And the fact is that skin cancer leaves both positive and negative sensations. The negative ones are that there are more and more cases, and it is the most prevalent cancer in people. On the positive side, skin cancer is generally easily curable if diagnosed and treated early.

Eight points to bear in mind about skin cancer

Dr. Carlos Guillén Barona, prestigious dermatologist and Head of the Dermatology Service of the Valencian Institute of Oncology, gives us a decalogue of eight points to bear in mind to avoid skin cancer:

  1. Removing a mole does not have to be bad.
  2. The skin has a memory. Prolonged exposure can cause the skin’s recovery process to fail, leading to skin cancer.
  3. Ultraviolet radiation is carcinogenic
  4. It is necessary to protect yourself with protective sun creams.
  5. Prevention campaigns should be heeded.
  6. If a new lesion appears or changes, it is a symptom.
  7. Tanning booths should be avoided
  8. Exposure of children to the sun on the beach may be considered maltreatment.

It is advisable to avoid sun exposure during the hours with the highest amount of ultraviolet radiation, i.e. between 12:00 and 17:00 hours. For more information on the effects of skin cancer and how to avoid it, consult a specialist in Dermatology.