Symptoms of Skin cancer
Author: Calvert Lambert 
Most common symptom for skin cancer is the change in the color of skin or a new growth or sole that doesn’t heals.
BCC or Basal cell carcinoma looks like a raised smooth bump on the sun exposed parts of body like head, neck or shoulders whereby a central depression develops that crusts and bleeds. Sometimes small blood vessels appear with the tumor.
SCC or Squamous cell carcinoma can be identified as red, scaling or thickened patch on different parts of the body that bleeds and ulcerate. It develops into large mass if left untreated.
Melanoma are normally brown to black pigmented lesions and gives a warning sign if changes its size, shape, color or elevation of the mole. Men more often get melanoma on the trunk or on the head or neck whereas women get it on the arms and legs.
Preventive Measures for Skin Cancer
An easy to remember guideline or ABCD to identify melanoma is:
Asymmetry in the shape of the mole; Borders of the mole may be irregular or ragged; Color may be uneven or a mixture of black, tan, brown, blue, red or white; Diameter of such mole can change in size.
Causes of skin cancer
UV rays or Ultraviolet rays is the root cause for skin cancer but some other causes for skin cancer includes the following:
- Family history,
- Use of artificial form of UV radiation such as sunlamps and tanning booths is responsible,
- Impaired immune system, that protects the human body from foreign entities, such as germs or substances that cause an allergic reaction,
- Frequent exposure to high level of x-rays,
- Body contact with certain substances like Arsenic (lamb shearers, miners, and farmers),
- Hydrocarbons in tar, oils, soot (cause squamous cell carcinoma).
People with the following characteristics are more prone to skin cancer:
- Having someone in the family suffering from the disease,
- People having a fair complexion or skin type that freckles or is most suffered with skin burns,
- Someone who has light blond or red hair or green or blue eyes,
- Having some genetic disorders that deplete skin pigment,
- Has been already treated for skin cancer or having atleast one severe sunburn early in life.
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