Skin cancer - a side effect on unsafe tanning

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What is skin cancer? - simply put, it is a disease of our body's cells. Cells are responsible for helping our body tissue to grow and regenerate. Exposure to UV light can cause cell mutations, the production of "activated oxygen molecules" which can damage cells and finally pilot the way to "localized immunosuppression" which disrupts the body's anti-cancer defenses.

The most prevalent type of skin cancer is Basal Cell Carcinoma (about 75%), which is slow-growing and does not often spread to other parts of the body. Next up is Squamous Cell Carcinoma (about 20%). This type grows more quickly and the possibility of spreading is more acute.

Have you considered fake tan as an alterantive to a sun bed?

The least common form of is malignant melanoma. This is the most serious and usually arises on or next to moles. Delaying treatment gives the mutated cells time to spread and if left can lead to fatal results.

So now that you are armed with this information, are tanning beds linked to it? Since tanning beds emit UV light the obvious answer is yes, but then so does the sun - but you do not see us hiding inside all the time. Unfortunately no one has been able to calculate just how much UV exposure causes skin cancer - this seems vary for each individual. Provided we use tanning equipment responsibly and follow the professional guidelines the risk of developing it is low, but you have to be aware that the risk still does exist.

What are the Symptoms of Skin Cancer?

The Basal Cell type usually present themselves as small round or oval patches that are shiny and white/grey in colour. They have been known to take on a hard consistency. The main problem with detecting this type of cancer is that it can resemble non-cancerous skin conditions such as eczema. The only way to be sure is to consult a trained physician. If you are going to use tanning equipment you would be advised to conduct regular checks of you body - remember to not forget your scalp and other areas that are not easily visible.

The Squamous Cell type are usually small, round, red and take on a slightly crusty elevated appearance. Sores often develop in the centre of the anomaly that do not heal.

Other symptoms of this skin cancer include:

•  Moles or other abnormalities that become larger and have varying shades of colour.

•  Moles that undergo a change in texture, become irregular in shape, or that become bigger than a pencil eraser.

•  A spot or growth that frequently itches, hurts, crusts over, continually scabs, or bleeds.

•  A sore that does not heal after a month or one that heals and reopens .

What Course is Followed for the Treatment of Skin Cancer?

On the suspicion that you have skin cancer the doctor may remove all or part of the growth / abnormality. This procedure is called a biopsy. The removed section is sent to a laboratory where a pathologist or dermatologist checks the tissue for diseased cells. It is only by such an observation that the condition can be identified.

There are two stages to the disease:

1. the local stage (affecting only the skin)
2. metastatic stage (spread past the skin.)

The biopsy is the only way to determine what stage the disease is in. When the growth is very large it is common practice for your physician to carefully examine the lymph nodes in the affected area. Additional special x-rays may be required to confirm that it has not spread to any other areas. Once the stage has been determined the best treatment and course of action can be planned.

The main goal of treatment is to remove or destroy the cancer completely with as small a scar as possible. Factors such as the size, its location, personal health and age all need to be taken into account. A second opinion is always advised before any treatment is decided on - a weeks delay is not going reduce the chance that the treatment undertaken will be successful so it is best to be thorough.

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