Melanoma And Skin Cancer

Melanoma is a very serious type of skin cancer that can be caused by being exposed to ultraviolet rays. In most cases, these ultraviolet rays usually come from the sun, but they can also come from other artificial sources such as tanning booths (1). Exposure to ultraviolet rays damages your skin, but it usually takes several years before this damage leads to health problems such as melanoma (1). The skin is made up of three layers which are the epidermis, the outer layer of skin, the dermis, which is the middle layer of skin, and the hypodermis, which is the deeper layer of skin which is also made up of fat. Melanocytes are located in the epidermis and produce pigment. Melanoma forms a tumor when melanocytes change and grow rapidly (8).
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People who have lots of moles or large moles have the highest risk of getting melanoma. If you have had melanoma in the past or have close blood relatives that have had melanoma, they you are also at a high risk of getting melanoma. This can be because of lifestyle or inheriting a gene mutation. People who have fair skin, sunburn easily, and have red or blonde hair are more likely to get melanoma as well. People with darker skin who don’t get sunburns easily are less likely to get melanoma. There are ways to prevent melanoma and lower your chance of getting it. One way is by reducing your time spent in intense sunlight (1). The second way is by wearing sunglasses and hats to protect your skin from the intense sunlight (1). The last way is to wear broad spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 (1). Another risk fact is if you live closer to the equator. This is because the sun rays there are more direct and you have more exposure to ultraviolet rays. (5) Doctors recommend that a person should exam their entire body monthly to make sure that there are not any new blemishes or moles that are changing in shape, size, or color (2). The sooner you find melanoma and consult with a doctor, the easier it is to cure (2). Melanoma is treated by surgical removal, which is performed by cutting it out of your skin. The more invasive the melanoma is, the deeper they will have to cut into your
In some cases, however, the melanoma can spread and become invasive. The fourth type begins as invasive therefore it is deeper in the skin and could be spread out throughout the body. The first type of melanoma is superficial spreading melanoma. This is the most common type and makes up 70% percent of cases. It is found more in younger people. This type of melanoma starts in the top layer of skin for a while, then it eventually spreads and goes deeper. The signs of superficial spreading melanoma are a flat or slightly raised patch that is asymmetrical and has uneven borders. It can be brown, black, blue, white or red. This type of melanoma can be found anywhere in your body. Some of the most common places it occurs, however, is your torso, legs, or upper back. The second type of melanoma, lentigo maligna, is very similar to superficial spreading melanoma. It appear to be flat and is found in the top layer of skin but eventually becomes invasive. Its colors consist of tan or brown. Lentigo maligna is mostly found in elderly and on the ears, face, upper torso, and arms. This type of melanoma is also the most common form found in Hawaii. Acral lentiginous melanoma is third type of melanoma. It is very different than the other two. The only similarity is that acral lentiginous melanoma also starts out on the top layers of skin, but