Anyone Can Get Skin Cancer—Learn How to Protect the Skin You're In!

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- You may have heard that people with light skin, light-colored hair, and blue or green eyes have a greater risk for developing skin cancer. But did you know that people with darker skin are at risk for skin cancer too?  It doesn't matter whether you consider your skin light, dark, or somewhere in between— anyone can get skin cancer .

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While skin cancer is less common among people with darker skin, it is often detected at later or advanced stages. In fact, data show that when Hispanics and other minority Americans are diagnosed with melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, it is usually at a later stage, when the disease is harder to treat.

This later diagnosis occurs partly because many people—even doctors—have long assumed that the pigment melanin in darker skin can protect against skin cancer. However, although melanin does help prevent sunburns, the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can still damage skin.

Also, the sun isn't the only cause of skin cancer. That's why skin cancer may be found in places on your body that never see the sun. For example, you may be more likely to develop skin cancer if you come into contact with certain chemicals or poisons, have scars or skin ulcers, or use medicines or develop medical conditions (such as HIV infection) that suppress the immune system. While family history and genetics are risk factors for skin cancer in Caucasian Americans, these have not been studied in people with darker skin.

It is important to identify the signs and symptoms of skin cancer early .

When skin cancer is found early, it can be treated more easily. A change on the skin is the most common sign of skin cancer. This may be any new mole or growth on the skin, a sore that doesn't heal, or a change in an old growth. Check the skin on all surfaces of your body, even in your mouth. Talk with your doctor if you see any changes on your skin that do not go away within a month.

There are steps you can take to protect yourself and prevent skin cancer .  

Avoid staying out in the sun if you can, especially in the middle of the day, when the sun's rays are strongest. If you work or play outside, you should wear clothes that cover your arms and legs, a hat that shades your face and ears, and sunglasses that filter out UV light to protect your eyes.

Use sunscreen that has a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. You should use sunscreen products that are labeled "broad spectrum" that can filter both UVA and UVB rays. You should not use tanning beds, booths, or sunlamps, because these machines also give off UV rays.

Blog Healthy Food | Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma usually occurs in sun-exposed areas of your body, such as your face, ears or scalp. Basal cell carcinoma may appear as:

A pearly or waxy bump A flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion

Basal cell carcinoma may look only slightly different than normal skin. The cancer may appear as skin bump or growth that is:

Pearly or waxy White or light pink Flesh-colored or brown

In some cases the skin may be just slightly raised or even flat. You may have:

A skin sore that bleeds easily A sore that does not heal Oozing or crusting spots in a sore Appearance of a scar-like sore without having injured the area Irregular blood vessels in or around the spot A sore with a depressed (sunken) area in the middle

Basal cell carcinoma  Signs and tests Your doctor will check your skin and look at the size, shape, color, and texture of any suspicious areas. If skin cancer is a possibility, a piece of skin will be removed from the area and examined under a microscope. This is called a skin biopsy. This must be done to confirm the diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma or other skin cancers. There are many types of skin biopsies. The exact procedure depends on the location of the suspected skin cancer .

Complications Basal Cell Carcinoma Complications of basal cell carcinoma can include:

A risk of recurrence. Basal cell carcinomas commonly recur. Even after successful treatment, they may recur, often in the same place. An increased risk of other types of skin cancer . A history of basal cell carcinoma may also increase the chance of developing other types of skin cancer , such as squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Cancer that spreads beyond the skin . Rare, aggressive forms of basal cell carcinoma can invade and destroy nearby muscles, nerves and bone. Very rarely, basal cell carcinoma can spread to other areas of the body.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) patients often present with a slowly growing , nonhealing sore of varying duration. The lesions are typically seen on the face, ears, scalp, neck, or upper trunk. Mild trauma, such as face washing or drying with a towel, initially may cause bleeding. A history of chronic recreational or occupational sun exposure is commonly elicited. Intense sun exposure often occurred in childhood or young adulthood.