Causes of Skin Cancer

UV radiation is one of the main causes of skin cancer. As the name suggests the Skin cancer is the cancer of the skin in which the malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the skin.  It is the abnormal growth of skin cells.

The skin is the body’s largest organ. It gives protection to the entire body from heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D.

The most important risk factor for skin cancer is the ultraviolet radiation. Exposure to these rays is a threat and can be major causes of skin cancer.

Early detection is the better cure because the key factor for good prognosis from skin cancer is that one needs to observe any unusual changes in the skin, this should not be a difficult task as skin is the most prominent organ of the body and any minor change also should be quite visible.

Skin cancer is divided into three major types. They are the basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and the melanoma skin cancer. These three types of skin cancer are on the rise. Surprisingly all these types can be pretty well prevented by following certain important measures and also by overcoming the risk factors.

The response of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma towards treatment is very good as they are slow growing and also if found at early stage. The most dreadful type is the melanoma as it affects the deeper layers of the skin and is very efficient in spreading to the other tissues of the body.

Skin cancer is not confined to any specific area in the body it can occur anywhere. The common sites of skin cancer development are the areas exposed to the sun like the arms, face, hands and neck. Sometimes this disease can affect the unexposed areas too.

Causes of Skin Cancer: UV Radiation

The causes of skin cancer are more specific than any other cancer. Certain environmental factors such as powerful sun rays containing UV radiations, exposure to some toxin chemicals and any radiation treatments in the past, these all may cater for the causes of skin cancer. (Sun-Damaged Skin May Cause Skin Cancer!<)

According to research the UVB rays played a role in the formation of skin cancer. This is quite evident from the fact that these rays are responsible for the causes of damage to the DNA which is the ultimate lead causes of genetic changes and mutations which result in abnormality of the cells, thus forming malignant cells responsible for cancer.

This is caused by the development of oncogenes which can turn the normal cells to cancerous cells. The UVB rays can penetrate deep into the cell proving a threat for melanoma type of skin cancer which is the most dangerous among the other types.

Other Causes of Skin Cancer

Other factor that may be the causes of skin cancer in some cases is heredity link. It sometimes may be possible that the causes of skin cancer may run in the family meaning if any one in the past had already been affected by the disease then the present generation may be able to develop the same, but this is not a clear cut reason for the development of the disease. Research still goes on to prove the exact heredity link or the genetic inheritance of the disease.