What Causes Skin Cancer
What is Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is specific to any malignant growth that may arise on the skin. There are three principal types of skin cancers which include melanoma, basal cell cancer and squamos cell cancer. Because the tumours will usually form on the epidermis or the outermost layer of the skin, identifying the cancerous growth is relatively simple. Skin cancer is very widely distributed in any population and is the most commonly occuring cancer. However it has a profoundly lower incidence of death because of the tendency for it to be detected in the early stages of the disease. Melanoma is the most devastating type of skin cancer but is less widespread than the two other forms of this disease. In many manifestations of the disease, the cancer does not always spread hastily or at all.
What causes Skin Cancer
There are quite a few known reasons for the development of the disease. The most widely known cause is directly related to over exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays or sunlight. The list below demonstrates some of the main causes.
- Being subject to any deficiency of the immune system, that is having a condition that promotes decreased immune system function, will greatly increase the risk for developing skin cancer. This decline in the functioning of the immune system may also arise because of consuming drugs to resist an autoimmune disease or after having an organ transplant. These drugs will be utilized to lower the immune system response in the case of autoimmune diseases that influence the immune system to attack its own cells and organs, for example this is observed in people with lupus. These drugs are also applicable after an organ transplant to guarantee that the body will not reject the newly acquired organ.
- Being exposed to irregularly high levels of X-rays may prompt the formation of skin cancer cells.
- Utilizing tanning booths to attain an artificial tan has been generally accepted as a probable cause of the disease.
- There are some chemicals that have been speculated to induce the development of skin cancers. These will generally include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and arsenic. It is thought that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons may likely be inhaled because of low levels of contamination in the air, consumed in foods and by touching any surface that is imbued with the chemical.
- Some people are thought to be at a more significant risk, such as lighter skinned people, people with blond or red hair and green or blue eyes. Additionally having freckles or being prone to sunburn may also increase a person’s risk for developing this kind of cancer.
- Having a genetic defect that does not allow the development of pigment can heighten the risk for developing the disease. These disorders typically include albinism and xeroderma pigmentosum.
- If an individual has already had skin cancer the risk for a recurrence is relatively high.
- If a person had at least one very severe instance of sunburn in childhood the risk for developing this sort of cancer is greater.
- Having a family history of the disease is also a well observed risk factor.
- If you have multiple moles these can progress into cancerous growths on the epidermis. Some persons choose to have any moles removed to lessen the likelihood that these moles will develop into cancerous growths.