What is the cause of skin Cancer?

Posted on | August 15, 2009 | 1 Comment

Skin cancer mainly caused by sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. It consists of visible light and other rays that people can’t see. Invisible infrared radiation, for instance, makes sunlight feel hot. UV also is invisible, and causes sunburn and sun tan. However, most people (especially teenager) often ignore it and make skin cancer rising each year.

Skin cancer cause

But there are other skin cancer causes, these include:

1. Smoking
   Studies have shown that smoking tobacco and related products can double the risk of skin cancer.
2. Ultraviolet Radiation
   Overexposure to UV-radiation may cause skin cancer either via the direct DNA damage or via the indirect DNA damage mechanism. Overexposure (burning) UVA & UVB have both been implicated in causing DNA damage resulting in cancer. Sun strength between 10AM and 4PM is most intense. Natural (sun) & artificial UV exposure (tanning salons) are possibly associated with skin cancer. UVB rays primarily affect the epidermis causing sunburns, redness, and blistering of the skin when overexposed. The melanin of the epidermis is activated with UVB just as with UVA; however, the effects are longer lasting with pigmentation continuing over 24 hours.
3. Tanning beds
   Teenager tends to use tanning beds to get tanned skin, even ignoring tanning beds side effect that endanger their life.
4. Sunburn
   Chronic non-healing wounds, especially burns. These are called Marjolin’s ulcers based on their appearance, and can develop into squamous cell carcinoma.
5. Genetics
   Genetic predisposition, including “Congenital Melanocytic Nevi Syndrome”. CMNS is characterized by the presence of “nevi” or moles of varying size that either appear at or within 6 months of birth. Nevi larger than 20 mm (3/4″) in size are at higher risk for becoming cancerous.
6. Human papilloma virus (HPV)
   It is often associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the genitals, anus, mouth, pharynx, and fingers.
7. Skin cancer is one of the potential dangers of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.

Main Article: Cancers of the Skin

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