Allcures :: Health-Info

What is Skin Cancer?
Pigmented skin lesions may be completely innocent-like freckles or life-threatening melanoma. It is important to monitor any changes to moles or pigmented marks on the skin such as itching, bleeding, crusting, growth or change of shape or colour, and take advice or treatment as necessary. All types of skin cancer have a high rate of cure success if treated early.

Apart from freckles, age spots are the most common innocent pigmentation marks on the skin and are larger, darkish brown spots caused by sun exposure. Despite their name, they may affect people as early as their 30s if they subject themselves to heavy sun exposure. They are caused by the production of melanin and are a protective response of the skin to sun exposure and harmless in themselves. However, they should be closely watched for any changes, as there are other conditions that look like age spots but in fact are more serious and need to be treated.

What Causes Skin Cancer?
Those with a history of prolonged sun exposure such as farmers, building workers or fishermen, risk a higher likelihood of developing age spots, especially if they are fair skinned. Ageing and long-term sun exposure can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, and age spots occur when the pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes, increase production of melanin as a protective response to the exposure.

Melanin absorbs harmful ultra-violet rays and prevents them from penetrating deeper into the skin, but with age, melanin can collect in certain over-exposed areas such as the shoulders, backs of hands, forearms and face, producing the flat, brown areas called age spots. Sunlight exposure in older people can also result in greater prominence of age spots.

What are the Symptoms of Skin Cancer?
Solar lentigo (age spots) is larger and more irregular in shape than freckles. They are completely harmless and do not change into any type of skin cancer, but any increase in pigment in the skin should be carefully monitored, as there are other pigmented lesions of the skin that may not be so innocent even though they may look like age spots. Some of the lesions that can be initially mistaken for age spots are:

Melanoma: this lesion has an irregular shape with uneven edges, raised or flat. Its colour can vary between black, brown, blue, red or white, and it may itch, bleed or crust. It is the most dangerous of skin lesions and can spread throughout the body, causing cancers that can kill. It must be surgically removed as soon as possible.

Solar Keratosis: a roughly-surfaced red or skin-coloured growth, caused by past ultra-violet damage or sunburn. Though harmless, it can be a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma - a malignant Skin Cancer that grows more slowly than melanoma - and should be removed by freezing or laser treatment or with skin creams.

Naevus: a fleshy lump of skin that can range from flesh-coloured to black. A harmless mole, it needs only to be observed for any changes.

Café au lait mark: this brown flat mark has an irregular shape, is superficial, not dangerous and, if cosmetically undesirable, can sometimes be removed by modern laser techniques.

Seborrhoeic Keratose: this is brown to black in colour, with a raised surface and warty appearance. Not dangerous, it should be monitored, but can be removed if it bleeds or itches.

Melasma: this brown stain can occur in pregnant women or those taking oral contraceptives. It is caused by a hormonal increase in melanin production and fades with time, though it never completely disappears. It can be faded with topical creams or for cosmetic purposes, can be removed with a laser.

Freckle: this pale brown spot appears on sun-exposed skin but does not need treatment.

What is the Treatment option for Skin Cancer?
If a doctor believes that a mole or skin pigmentation could be dangerous, he will advise a biopsy, in which a small sample of skin is taken for microscopic examination and for identification of whether malignant or benign. Should the condition prove to be more serious, full excision by surgery is recommended. Treatments will depend on the lesion:

Age Spots: these do not need treatment but if removal is desired they can be treated with Ruby lasers designed to target melanin, or with skin peels or topical creams that will fade them. Some topical creams contain hydroquinone which should be used with care, and is not legally available in the UK above two per cent by volume.

Melanoma: surgical removal with surrounding tissue is necessary to ensure complete excision. Further treatment can include lymph-node biopsy and chemotherapy or other drug therapy to prevent spread.

Basal Cell Carcinoma: these appear as small, pale, shiny nodules that can bleed or become crusty. They grow slowly over several years and should be surgically removed or they can ulcerate, but they are unlikely to spread.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma: these are pink and scaly and grow more rapidly. They should also be surgically removed as they can spread or become locally disfiguring.

Solar Keratosis: removal by freezing using liquid nitrogen is advisable, followed by sun protection to prevent recurrence.

Naevus: this can be removed by laser or surgery.

Café au lait Marks: these can be treated with Ruby laser therapy.

Seborrheic Keratoses: these may be removed by freezing or cautery.

Melasma: these are treated with skin peels, creams or laser therapy.

Freckles: no treatment is required for these, but they can be faded by skin creams or peels.

Protecting the skin from burning and over exposure to the sun with adequate sun protection is essential, especially if there is a family history of malignant skin conditions. Certain vitamins and minerals help in protecting the skin from sun damage and hyperpigmentation.

Preventative supplements suggested include the antioxidant vitamins C and E, plus vitamins B , A and D. Certain plant extracts, such as aloe vera, comfrey root, bearberry and liquorice, are shown to help in fading pigmentation and are available in skin-care creams.