What is the skin?
The skin is the largest and most visible organ
of the body and has many purposes. The major function of skin is
to protect the body from injury and infection and to regulate the
temperature of the body.
The skin is divided into 2 main layers
they are as follows:
- Epidermis - this is the outside layer of
your skin and also the thinnest, it is made up of many cells.
The 3 main types of cells, which are affected by skin cancer are
found in the epidermis, they are called basal cells, squamous
cells and melanocytes.
- Dermis - this is the layer underneath the
epidermis, the dermis is the thickest part of the skin and contains
nerve endings, blood vessels, hair follicles and oil and sweat
glands.
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer
in the U.K. There are 3 main types of skin cancer and they are as
follows:
- Basal cell carcinoma, sometimes called a
rodent ulcer, is the most common type of skin cancer in the U.K.
This cancer begins in the basal cells, it is slow growing and
it does not spread to other parts of the body. The majority of
people with this cancer are completely cured.
- Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most
commonest type of skin cancer in the U.K. This type of cancer
begins in the squamous cells and may spread to other parts of
the body. However, like basal cell carcinoma, the majority of
people with this type of cancer will be completely cured.
- Malignant melanoma is still fortunately quite
rare in the U.K. Cells in the skin, called melanocytes protect
us against the suns damaging rays. Melanocytes produce a protective
pigment called melanin, which is what causes our skin to tan and
change colour. Collections of melanocytes appear on the skin surface
as a mole or beauty spot. Malignant melanoma affects melanocytes
cells and often appears as a new mole or a changed mole. If caught
late, this type of skin cancer is more difficult to treat and
can rapidly spread to other parts of the body.
Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are known
as non-melanoma skin cancer. They are more common and less dangerous
than malignant melanoma. Early treatment is still recommended for
non-melanoma types of cancer as if left they will grow and cause
disfiguration.
What causes skin cancer?
The main cause of skin cancer is exposure to
sunlight. Sunlight contains ultraviolet (U.V.) rays that can cause
damage to the skin. The number of people with skin cancer is increasing
as more people are taking holidays in hot countries and more people
are regularly using sunlamps (beds) to obtain a tan. Sunlamps give
off artificial U.V. radiation. There are different factors, which
can affect the intensity of U.V. rays, such as latitude (the closer
to the equator you are, the stronger the rays) and altitude ( the
intensity of U.V. rays increases, the higher you are). Continued
damage to the ozone layer may also play a role in the increase of
people with skin cancer, as more U.V. rays reach the Earth.
Non-melanoma cancer (basal and squamous) is
caused by long-term exposure to sunlight, which is why they occur
mainly in the elderly. However, malignant melanoma is associated
with frequent sun exposure e.g. sun sensitive people who spend most
of the year indoors and then take a 2 week holiday in the sun.
Am I at risk of getting skin cancer?
You are more at risk of getting skin cancer
if you are fair skinned and tend to go red or freckle when exposed
to sunlight. You will also have an increased risk if you have a
large number of moles (50-100) or if there is a history of skin
cancer in your family. The risk of skin cancer also increases if
you burn. Sunburn is skin damage and though on the surface the burnt
skin peels away, deep down the damage remains.
Black or brown skinned people are less likely
to develop skin cancer as their bodies produce more of the pigment
melanin, which protects the skin.
What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
Squamous and basal cell carcinomas can appear
in many different forms, they are most likely to appear on skin
which is regularly exposed to the sun e.g. face and neck, but they
can be found on other areas of the body. Symptoms to look for include:
- A small lump on your skin, which is smooth
in appearance, it may bleed or develop a crust.
- Flat red spot, which is crusty and scaly.
- An open sore or ulcer that bleeds or crusts
over but does not heal.
- Firm red painless lump.
Most malignant melanomas start as small black
or brown marks on the skin, they are hard to distinguish from normal
moles and may develop from existing moles. Malignant melanomas may
affect most parts of the body, but the most common areas they can
be found are on the back and chest in men and on the arms and legs
in women (areas of the body that are regularly exposed to the sun).
The symptoms of malignant melanoma include:
- A new mole.
- A mole that changes in size or shape. Most
melanomas have an irregular shape and if you were to draw a line
down the middle, one half would not match the other.
- A mole that changes colour, it may become
darker. Most melanomas are not one colour.
- If a mole becomes inflamed or has a reddish
edge.
- A mole that itches or bleeds.
- A blood blister under a nail, which is not
as a result of injury.
You should remember that when detected early, skin cancer has a 99% cure rate, so if you notice anything unusual on your skin,
which does not go away after a month, you should ask your doctor
for advice. Please remember that many other skin conditions could
show these symptoms.
How can I prevent getting skin cancer?
To prevent all types of skin cancers you should
avoid being burnt by the sun and keep in the shade when possible.
Wear protective clothing and a wide brimmed hat when out-doors and
avoid the sun between the hours 11am till 3pm. Most importantly,
always apply sunscreen of at least S.P.F. (Sun Protection Factor)
15, 30 minutes before exposure to the sun and then re-apply every
2-3 hours, more often if you are in and out of the water. The majority
of us do not apply enough sunscreen and do not apply it evenly,
exposing areas of the skin to sunburn. Pay particular attention
to areas of the body which are not used to sun exposure.
Many people believe that the sun in the UK is not strong enough to harm their skin. You should remember that the sun in the UK, especially in the summer months has the same burning power as that of a European holiday resort at the same time of year.
Avoid using sun beds, if you don’t tan
in the sunlight you will not tan under a sun bed either.
You should always make sure that children are well protected when
playing outdoors, they are unlikely to remember to cover up themselves
or notice when they get burned. Encourage your child to wear a hat
and sunglasses when outside and dress them in long sleeve t-shirts
and long shorts or skirts. There is a great amount of evidence that
says children who are exposed to sunburn at an early age are at
a much greater risk of developing skin cancer when they get older.
If you still want a golden tan why not consider using
one of the many fake tans available on the market. I personally
like and use Boots Soltan™ self tanning mousse, St Tropez (which is available in large department stores and is the one many celebrity's use) and Clarins™
after sun with self tanning cream. The majority of fake tans contain
an ingredient called DHA (Dihydroxyacetone).
How is skin cancer diagnosed?
Your doctor will usually be able to tell from
a simple examination if your skin problem is caused by cancer, though
he/she will not be able to tell which type. To diagnose which cancer
you have, a biopsy will almost certainly have to be done. This is a simple procedure,
which involves the doctor removing part, or the entire lump/mole,
which is causing concern, it will then be sent away for analysis.
Once the type of cancer has been determined
you may then have an X-ray or scan to see if the cancer has spread.
How is skin cancer treated?
As mentioned earlier the majority of skin cancers
are completely cured and there are a number of treatments available.
The type of treatment you receive will depend on the type and size
of the tumour.
A non-melanoma (basal and squamous) skin cancer is usually treated
by minor surgery to fully remove the tumour. Occasionally, you may
require radiotherapy to ensure all cancer cells have been killed and to prevent it re-occurring.
Malignant melanoma if caught at an early stage
is usually cured by surgery, but once spread treatment becomes more
difficult. Chemotherapy is usually given along with a drug called interferon to help the
body fight the cancer cells.
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