Symptoms and Prevention of Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is formed under the melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells that give the skin its color along with moles. Melanoma is dangerous and is caused especially when exposed to strong ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Cases of melanoma cancer are on the rise every year. According to one statistic, one in every five American will develop melanoma in their lifetime.
Symptoms of Melanoma
Identifying the symptoms of melanoma can be a bit tough. Melanoma has to be treated and diagnosed at the earliest stage as cancer can spread to lymph nodes and other distant organs. Melanoma skin cancer has no exceptions and can happen to anyone. The first sign of melanoma can be noticed as unusual spots and changes of color on the skin. Melanoma can be detected if followed the ABCDE rule, which is as follows:
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A-Asymmetry
Part of the mole or birthmark are asymmetrical or do not match.
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B-Border
Lookout for any rugged, irregular, unusual, or blurred border edges on the mole.
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C-Color
The color of the skin may vary with a shade of brown, black, or sometimes patches of pink, red, or white.
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D-Diameter
The thumb rule for melanoma symptom is that the spot has to be larger than six millimeters.
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E-Evolving
The shape, size, and the color of the spot keep evolving or changing.
Mostly, but not all melanoma develop from moles. One can check the skin for any abnormal moles and get them checked with your doctor or dermatologist for any indication or sign of melanoma skin cancer.
Prevention of melanoma
It is a common knowledge that melanoma is caused by sun rays. After identifying the symptoms, prevention of melanoma needs to be done to restrict any further damage to your skin. Even though, one adopts preventive measures to control melanoma, certain factors such as age, hereditary, ethnicity, and gender play an important role for causing melanoma. Here are some preventive steps one can take to control melanoma.
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Avoid the sun
Try to avoid going out in the sun a lot . Using broad-spectrum sunscreen, which gives protection from UVA and UVB rays or covering the eyes with glasses can limit melanoma. One sunburn or blister can double your chances of melanoma.
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No tanning beds
Everyone loves to get tanned. But these same tanning beds and tanning lamps are 75 percent responsible for causing melanoma, if used under the age of 30 years.
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Wearing protective clothing
Hats, scarves, glasses, and wearing cotton clothes can help you from harsh sunlight to some extent.
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Keep children away from the sun
Children have a delicate skin and slight sunburn can damage their skin and increase the chances of developing melanoma in near future.
The same sun that gives us sunlight can give us skin cancer too! People living in areas or location closer to the equator where sunlight is very sharp are more vulnerable to catch this deadly skin cancer. Identifying the symptoms and preventing melanoma is the best way to deal with this cancer.
