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by: AdrianFletcher
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Skin cancer is a disease that receives more headlines and article column inches than ever before. Is this an indication that the disease is on the rise because people are more at risk to the causes of skin cancer. Or simply that the public information campaigns have made people more alert to spotting warning signs and getting them checked out by their doctors. The answer is probably a bit of both. So what causes skin cancer ? This article will answer this question and detail who is most at risk on getting the disease.

The number one skin cancer cause, according to current thinking is being exposed to direct sunlight for a long period of time. Do you remember when people thought of a suntan as a sign of good health ?

Well this isn't the way these days. If you live in a part of the world where the sun beats down and maybe the ozone layer has been depleted no doubt you are used to the mantra of slip, slop, slap. Slip on a shirt, slop on a hat and slap on a 30+ sun protection factor sunscreen.

The bottom line is that over exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time will lead to some form of skin cancer. The degree or quantity of over exposure that a person may need before they show signs of skin cancer depends on their skin type.

People that find their skin burning quickly in the sun are at greater risk of skin cancer. Burning could be the skin turning red or even peeling but ultimately the person will feel pain on the burned portions of the skin. And pain is the body telling you that something is wrong. People often ignore the pain because they are having a good time or their work requires them to work in sunny conditions.

A person that burns quicker generally has less melanin in the body. Melanin is a substance that produces color or pigmentation in the skin, eyes and hair. So people with less melanin will be characterized by fair hair - blond or red, light colored eyes - blue or green and pale skin. People with no melanin at all have a condition knowns as Albinism. An Albino will have no color in the hair, eyes and skin.

The purpose of melanin in the skin is to protect it from the causes of skin cancer by darkening it. Darkening, also known as a sun tan, helps the skin to resist burning and thus skin cancer. Without melanin a person would be at risk to the UV radiation that comes from the sun. Albinos are particularly at risk and must cover themselves well when in the sun.

Using equipment that leads to exposure to UV radiation is another way to increase the risk of skin cancer. The sunbed is a prime example of this. Many sunbeds are used to get that healthy tan all year round but too much of the sunbed is bad news for your skin.

In summary, you should protect yourself against ultra violet radiation. This may get to you in many ways, but the most common is exposure to sunlight. If you are in such a position, be it business or pleasure, you should protect your skin using clothing, eye protection and sunscreen.

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Get more details on the signs of skin cancer and the types of skin cancer then see symptomsofskincancer.net

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