No fun in the sun Part 1 (BCC)

Considering it's summer time and alot of people tan, I just thought i'd remind everyone that UV radiation can be very harmful!
UV exposer can lead to premature aging and wrinkles and can even cause cataracts and snow blindness and other skin conditions like solar keratosis where the skin starts over producing keratin to toughen up to protect it's self(skin feels like leather). But the most harmful side effect of sunbathing is cancer!! 


Basal Cell Carcinoma
 Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of cancer. There's about a million new cases each year. BCC is a malignant tumor that begins as a papule(inflamed solid elevation of the skin) and grows in the basal layer of the epidermis, becoming a crater that erodes, crusts and bleeds.
 The SUN is one of the biggest causes of BCC. The sun is 90% responsible for skin cancers. Basal cell carcinoma is most seen in the sun exposed areas like face, ears, neck, scalp and shoulders.

The sun damage responsible for BCC cancer usually happens years(10-40 years) before the cancer even begins.


People who sunburn easily, usually fair skin have a higher chance then darker skin of getting BCC.
Places closer to the equator have a higher UV index so they have a higher chance of getting BCC
You also have a higher risk of getting it if there's family history.

People who get basal cell carcinoma once, are more likely going to get more. Often the second one will be close to where the other spot has been.

Sometimes BCC can resemble skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema. But there are five common characteristics that are seen more often, usually two or more of these characteristics will be present.
Some of these characteristics are:

An Open Sore

Most common on the chest, shoulders,
arms and legs. Sometimes the patch

might crusts, itch or bleed.

A reddish patch/ irritated area

Most common on the chest, shoulders, arms or legs.

 Sometimes the patch might crust, itch or hurt

 

A shiny bump

Usually a round bump that protrudes above the surface of the skin. It can be pink, red, white, tan, black, brown or translucent. Sometimes it can be confused with a mole.

A pink growth

 

A slightly elevated bump that has a crusted center.

It will slowly grow and tiny blood vessels may come
to the surface

A scar-like area

Can be white, yellow or waxy and has poorly defined borders. The skin looks shiny and taunt, this is a sign that small roots are there, which makes the tumor larger then it appears on the surface.





Prevention and treatment

Stop sunbathing or going to tanning beds. Even if you don't burn and go red, you're still causing skin damage. Wear SPF 15 or higher everyday. Even on a day with overcast, the UV radiation can still penetrate through the clouds.

Surgery is the only way to remove basal cell carcinoma. Fortunately there are a couple different types of surgery that can be preformed to remove the cancer. The surgery will leave a scar, there is no way of removing BCC without leaving that darn scar.
  
Different types of surgery


Electrodessication and curettage: The cancer is burned and removed with a sharp instrument.
Cryosurgery: Freezing the cancer to kill it.
Excision: The cancer is cut out, along with some healthy tissue also.
Micro graphic surgery: The cancer is also cut out along with some healthy tissue, then the doctor will use a microscope to see if there's any remaining cancer cells.
Laser surgery: A beam of light is used to remove the cancer.

If you have a new growth somewhere on you're body always see a dermatologist about it. And always wear sunscreen, SPF 15 or more!!

Hope this helped and comments and questions are always appreciated

                                           Sleepy Flower