Watch out for the sun! Protect yourself from skin cancer
Skin cancer is the most common of all types of cancer, above the breast type.
Its variety of forms of appearance makes it so unnoticeable in society but it has a significant mortal risk if not taken into account and treated in time.
It affects men, women, young people, adults and has only one risk or important cause, severe exposure to the sun’s UVA and/or UVB rays.
Very few people are aware of the imminent damage caused by the sun to unprotected skin and there are many people affected by this pathology that seems harmless but ends up becoming a serious health problem.
Before talking about sun care methods and explaining the importance of applying it as a habit, there will be a space to understand what skin cancer is and how it appears in our lives.
What is skin cancer?
It is an abnormal alteration of skin cells that cause damage that occurs in the form of spots, nodules, ulcers, scabs, variation in the size of moles and warts, changes in color, etc.
Despite the fact that it is the cancer with the highest probability of being cured, 70% of the population that does not treat this type of cancer in time can have a fatal result, which is why it is so important to raise awareness about its causes and diagnosis to ensure that people can treat it in time.
To diagnose this disease, it is necessary, first, to apply a self-examination to find out if there is something different on the skin in order to go to a professional who will issue a final diagnosis and effective treatment.
Causes of this skin disease:
The sun is one of the main causes of this pathology, however, there are other risk factors that can increase the chances of suffering from it in the future, which are:
- Fair skin, tends to be more sensitive to the effects of the sun.
- Previous skin lesions.
- Family and personal history of skin cancer.
- Presence of many moles.
- Living in sunny areas such as coasts or at high altitudes such as mountains.
- Weak immune system.
- Radiation exposure.
- Chronic sun exposure.
In conclusion, if you consider that you have one or more of these risk factors, it is important that you consult the health of your skin with your trusted doctor.
If you have noticed spots, moles or marks on the skin that can be dangerous, see a specialist.
In the event that you feel healthy skin, but maintain the risk factors, take precautions, start taking care of the sun with the recommendations that we will make below and perform a frequent self-examination of your skin to be aware of any change in alertness.
Facts to protect yourself from the sun:
We are in an era where putting on sunscreen on the beach is fashionable, it is common to see families making use of these products during a day at the pool, beach, mountain or any outdoor activity.
However, they forget about daily care.
The sun is a permanent risk, we must make care a habit that guarantees that our exposure to the sun, no matter how short, will not cause long-term damage.
How to take care of the sun?
- Applying sunscreen to the skin before leaving home. The product must be greater than 15 SPF and broad-spectrum, i.e. protect against UVA and UVB rays.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants or skirts that cover the legs.
- Stay in the shade as much as possible, that is, avoid long days of exposure during the day.
- Wear a cap or hat that covers the head, neck and face from the sun's rays.
- Choose to have sunglasses that protect from UVA rays.
- Reapply sunscreen every two hours if you continue to be exposed to the sun.
What else should I know about the sun?
It is important to mention that the sun, although it does not give vitamin D and is a source of heat, is harmful to us.
Most people are unaware of how severe UVA rays can be on their skin and the irreversible damage it can cause.
Today we can still see people who decide to get natural or artificial tans, exposing their skin to irreparable damage.
Here are some sun facts that can help you, your family, and friends have a reason to take care of the sun.
- UVA and UVB rays can cause damage to unprotected skin in as little as 15 minutes of exposure.
- Although the weather is cloudy, the sun continues to cause damage to unprotected skin.
- The sun's rays begin to be severe after 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
- At high latitudes, the solar impact is more intense.
