Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma
Over 90% of basal cell carcinomas occur in fair-skinned, blue-eyed individuals over the age of 40. The lesions form on sun exposed areas such as the eyelids, bridge of the nose, hands, or forearms. They appear translucent and red, with a rolled border. They usually reach 1 cm to 3 cm in size before they ulcerate and bleed. They often have a central ulceration. They are very slow-growing cancers, taking months to years to grow, and they never spread to other parts of the body. They can be cured with topical chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Since they are related to a lifetime of sun exposure, there is a 40% chance of new basal cell cancer occurring over a five-year period after initial treatment.

Skin Cancer Lesions

Actinic (solar) keratosis
Actinic keratoses are precancerous lesions that arise due to increased production of keratin (a tough, fibrous protein) in sun-exposed areas such as face, hands, neck and forearms. The lesion is scaly, flat, 2 mm to 2 cm wide, and has an irregular outline. It ranges from red to pink in colour and grows laterally. They can be itchy or painful, and the number of lesions often increases with age. It arises due to repeated sun exposure and usually occurs in people over the age of 40. About 2% of actinic keratoses can change into squamous cell carcinoma.


Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma lesions occur on the head, neck, and back of hands. 90 to 95% appear on sun-exposed areas. The lesions have irregular borders, are usually quite thick, range from red to brown in colour, and may ulcerate (form an ulcer). You are more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma if you are fair-skinned, have blond or red hair, or work outdoors. Upon surgical removal of the cancer, the person is usually cured. However, in some case, it can spread to other organs in the body if not removed in time.

Skin cancer facts

All of the following play a role in determining your risk of developing skin cancer:
the total amount of sun received over the years
the number of sunburns or tans you have had
your skin type
your family history
the environment you live in

Nearly 50% of people over the age of 65 have or have had some form of skin cancer. Almost all skin cancers are preventable. There is some good news however: 95% of all skin cancers are curable with removal if they are found early enough.
Light-skinned individuals are most at risk of developing skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma (non-melanoma skin cancers). The lesions usually show up on sun-exposed areas such as backs of legs, arms, neck, face, and scalp.
These cancers are usually not metastatic. This means that, typically, they don't spread to other parts of the body and are cured upon removal of the lesion. Nearly 70% of non-melanoma skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas and 30% are squamous cell carcinomas.
Malignant melanomas are more serious, as they can quickly spread to other organs in the body and can result in death. They account for 2% of all skin cancers.
It takes about 10 to 20 years or more for skin cancers to develop, which means that a cancer discovered in your 50s may be due to sun exposure in your early 20s.

The facts of sunburns

The Facts
Sunburn is a kind of radiation damage done by the sun. It's by far the most common form of radiation damage. While most people know radiation is dangerous, they voluntarily expose themselves to the harmful ultraviolet (UV) light of the sun on a regular basis.
Radiation can provoke cancer, and the popularity of sunbathing has brought a steady climb in new cases of skin cancer and actinic keratosis, a precursor to skin cancer. Actinic keratosis and all types of skin cancer, particularly nonmelanoma types (basal and squamous cell cancer), are directly linked to sun exposure. Exposure in early life is especially relevant. Many people get the bulk of their sun exposure during childhood, and it's been shown that even one childhood sunburn increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. However, sunburn is not required to damage skin. A tan is also clear evidence of UV skin damage.
In Canada, skin cancer is still fairly rare in people under 40. The amount of UV radiation is more variable in northern than southern latitudes, so the total dose received accumulates more slowly. In Australia, where people are exposed to far more UV light from an early age, skin cancer is a disease that more often strikes people in their 20s and 30s.
The depletion of the ozone layer has raised the degree of exposure, but not by as much as sun-worshipping habits. Regardless, the extra cancer cases from the ozone effect mostly haven't had time to develop yet.
If it weren't for skin cancer, sunburn would be a minor health problem, with only the most extreme cases requiring hospital treatment. As it is, any sun or other UV exposure, including a gentle tan, increases the risk of skin cancer.

Are YOU at risk?

Could you be at risk for skin cancer? It depends on your genes, your lifestyle, and your environment.
Skin cancer is usually caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, such as from sunlight or tanning beds. The UV light damages genes in your skin cells. If enough damage occurs, the cells may begin to grow uncontrollably, leading to skin cancer. UV light may also make it harder for your immune system to detect and destroy skin cancer cells.
To get an idea of your own personal risk, consider two things: the amount of UV light you're exposed to, and how much protection you have from UV light. The greater the exposure to UV light, and the less protection you have, the greater your risk.

Things that can increase your UV light exposure include:
working at outdoor jobs
sunbathing
participating in or watching outdoor sports
using tanning beds or salons

Things that reduce your protection from UV light include:
having fair skin that burns easily (darker-skinned people have more melanin, a skin pigment that helps protect skin from UV light)
living close to the equator, at a high altitude, or being outside on days where the UV index is higher (greater risk of sun damage)
having health conditions (such as HIV) or taking medications (such as cancer or transplant medications) that suppress the immune system, since these decreases the body's ability to find and destroy skin cancer cells
Other factors that increase the risk of skin cancer include severe sunburns, excessive X-ray exposure, arsenic poisoning, or burns from radium. One particular type of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, has some extra risk factors, including a family history of skin cancer, large numbers of moles, or unusual moles.

Self-examination

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. Most types of skin cancers are preventable, and when skin cancer occurs, cure rates are high if it is diagnosed and treated early. If allowed to progress, though, skin cancer can result in disfigurement and even death. This is why regularly examining your skin (for example, once a month) is essential, especially because a skin cancer lesion often won't hurt or feel uncomfortable, so it's easy to overlook. It is also important to have your skin examined by your doctor at least once a year, especially if you are over the age of 40.
How to conduct a monthly skin self-exam:
Start with the head and end with the feet.
Look at the scalp, the face, the neck, beneath facial hair, on the trunk, the armpits, the hands, the finger webs, the toe webs, the nail beds, and the soles of the feet.
Use a mirror to examine your back and the skin between the buttocks.
It is important that you see your doctor as soon as possible if you notice a mole, birthmark, beauty mark, spot, or sore that:
has irregularly shaped outline
changes colour or is dark black in colour
increases in size or thickness or shape
changes in texture
is bigger than 6 mm
bleeds
itches or hurts
crusts or scabs
ulcerates or bleeds
fails to heal within three weeks, leading to ulceration, scabbing, or bleeding

Actinic keratosis - a warning sign!

Actinic keratosis is an early warning sign of skin cancer. These rough, scaly skin lesions are found on areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun over time. Although they are not considered to be a form of skin cancer, they can turn into skin cancer if they aren't treated promptly.
Like skin cancer, actinic keratosis is caused by too much exposure to UV light, such as from sunlight. People with fair skin that burns easily are at a higher risk of actinic keratosis.
How can you tell if you may have actinic keratosis? Check your skin, especially any sun-exposed areas, for rough, scaly lesions that may be skin-coloured, red, pink, grey, or brown. The lesions are often covered with a crust. Actinic keratosis is often found on the face, scalp, ears, neck, arms, and hands. If you notice anything that fits this description, or any other skin changes you're concerned about, check with your doctor.
If your doctor diagnoses actinic keratosis, there are a number of treatment options. Surgery can be used to remove the lesions, either by cutting out the lesion, using liquid nitrogen to "freeze" the lesion, using a laser to destroy the cells of the lesion, or using bursts of electricity to dry out the lesion and make it easy to remove. Medications, such as fluorouracil and imiquimod, can be applied to the skin to help clear up the lesions. Photodynamic therapy, which uses a special light source in combination with medication, can also be used to treat actinic keratosis.
How can you prevent actinic keratosis? The same way you can protect yourself from skin cancer - by avoiding exposure to UV light and monitoring on your skin. So using sunscreen, avoiding the peak sun hours (10 am to 4 pm), covering up with clothing and sunglasses, and doing monthly skin self-exams can all reduce your risk of actinic keratosis, or help catch it early if it does develop.

Safe tan

If you want to stay safe but still love that tanned look, you may want to try a sunless tanning product (also called "self-tanning" products). These products, which usually come as a cream or a gel, contain a dye that binds to dead skin cells, producing a tanned colour. The colour usually wears off in about a week when the dead skin sloughs off. Sunless tanning products need to be applied regularly in order to maintain the colour. Wash your hands with soap and water after applying the product to avoid transferring it to other areas of the body. Some products also contain sunscreen, but the sunless tanning product on its own does not protect you from the sun.
Regular skin examinations are another tool in the fight to prevent skin cancer. The Canadian Dermatology Association suggests that everyone should perform a monthly skin self-exam. This will help you become more familiar with your own skin so that you can notice changes and have them checked out by a doctor. See "Spotting it early" for hints on what changes to watch for. You should also have your skin examined by a doctor every year.

A few safety tips

Here are a few sun safety tips that will let you enjoy your time outdoors safely:

Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. Choose one that protects against both types of UV light (UVA and UVB). Look for a product that's approved by the Canadian Dermatology Association (you'll see their logo on the package). Some products combine a moisturizer and sunscreen in one for added convenience.
If you can, schedule outdoor activities before or after the peak sun hours of 10 am to 4 pm.
Cover up - use a hat, sunglasses, and clothing that will cover as much exposed skin as possible (for example, opt for longer pants, long sleeves, or a longer skirt). "Wrap-around"-style sunglasses are ideal because they let in less light than other styles.

Spend time in shaded areas or under umbrellas during the peak sun hours (10 am to 4 pm).
Babies under one year of age should be kept out of direct sunlight. Protect the baby from direct sunlight using an umbrella, a stroller cover, or clothing and hats.
Find out whether your medications increase your risk of sunburn. Certain antibiotics and acne medications can increase your sensitivity to the sun. Birth control pills can lead to darker skin patches on the cheek and forehead areas when these areas are exposed to the sun. If you're taking any of these medications, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

hair gel as tanning lotion

Valerie wonders: Has anyone heard of a hair product, possibly a gel or a product for ethnic hair, that works really good as a tanning lotion?

answer:
Sorry, Valerie, I’ve never heard of such a product. But I can think of a couple of theoretical instances where a hair product could make a good tanning lotion. For example, if a hair gel had a high concentration of sunscreen it could be used for tanning. Or if it contained DHA, which is the active ingredient in sunless tanning lotions, it could be used as a self tanner. But even if this were the case, the product would be designed to be used on hair and wouldn’t be optimized for use on skin so I doubt it would work very well. You’d be better off just buying a tanning lotion made for skin. source-thebeautybrains.com

Senate passes bill regulating teens’ use of tanning salons

Teenagers hoping for a bronze glow during prom season could face a cloudy outlook next year.
North Dakota lawmakers have approved a bill banning teens under 18 from using indoor tanning salons without written permission from their parents.
Customers under 14 will not be allowed to indoor tan without a written order from a physician and without being accompanied by a parent.
The bill also requires indoor tanning salons in the state to be regulated and requires salons to advise customers of potential harmful effects.

Addicted to tanning!

by Lisa Wilcox/KTAR
Outdoor and indoor tanning is dangerous, but people continue to do it. Why?

A new study says some people are addicted to tanning, with symptoms just like those of alcoholics or drug addicts.

"There's something about it - I'm no sure what exactly. But, I have a little bit of a high or a better feeling. I'm happier, more perky," said one woman.

Dermatologists say UV light releases endorphins, which gives folks a natural high. They think that's a big part of why people continue to tan even they know it can cause cancer.

What is a spray tan?

Spray tanning is an alternative to natural tanning or a tanning bed. An application, which comes in various forms, gel, lotion, mousse or a fine mist, produces effects in the skin which imitate a traditional tan. According to the American Academy of Dermatology the most active ingredient in spray tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). It is not a dye, stain, or paint but a reaction between the top layers of your skin and the DHA. It does not change the skin pigmentation or need UV exposure to initiate the reaction. The reaction is non-toxic and temporary. The effects will fade gradually over a 3 to 10 day period.
DHA has been approved by the FDA. Using DHA is also recommended by the Skin Cancer Organization, American Academy of Dermatology, The American Cancer Society and the American Medical Association.
Two of the most popular methods for a spray tan are Mystic Tan and Magic Tan. These professional level application involve standing in an enclosed booth while a fine mist is sprayed over the entire body. Professional spray tanning services are available at spas, tanning salons, and gyms.
It is recommended that you wait at least 4 hours before showering to allow your tan to develop.
**Remember that a spray tan does not give you UV protection from the sun. But unlike traditional tanning a sunless tan is appropriate for all skin type. Even those that naturally would not tan.
**TIP: Some clients like the results from combining a spray tan with a traditional tan to receive a richer more even tone.

Great question

Many salon brand products such as indoor tanning lotions or hair care products claim they’re only guaranteed when purchased in a salon, because that’s the only way to ensure it’s the real deal. They suggest not to buy those products at drugstores or department stores, saying they are either fake or have been tampered with. Does that ever happen, or are they just trying to scare us into paying the higher price?

You can trust that if you’re buying a salon brand from a regular store, there is no difference between it and the stuff you can get at a salon. So, don't be fooled!

The risks of indoor tanning

The risks of indoor tanning include premature aging such as age spots and wrinkles, and even worse, the danger of skin cancer.

To help spread the word, the Academy is working with Miss Maryland 2006, Brittany Lietz, who is sharing her own experiences with skin cancer to increase awareness. Beginning her visits to the tanning bed at 17, Lietz was diagnosed with stage-II melanoma at age 20. While Lietz was fortunate that a dermatologist caught her melanoma in time, she has a constant reminder in the form of an 8-inch scar on her back.
Their aggressive campaign includes traditional television, radio and print advertising and one non-traditional element: Instant Messaging. Approximately 53 million American computer users – most of them teens – use IMs. Many exchange IMs more frequently than e-mail. It has a language all its own, and the Academy has developed this campaign specifically for teens who use it.
Please take a few minutes to check out this enlightening, and possibly life saving, information by visiting http://thebeautybrains.com/www.aad.org/skincancerpsas.

The Big Lie

This info I found on another blog, I think it's very informative so I post it here
Jessica admits to commiting a beauty sin: she tans indoors. She’s been told that in order to maximize your skin’s ability to tan, you should use an indoor tanning lotion. They have ingredients such as Tyrosine that are supposed to make you tan faster/better, as opposed to regular body lotion. She wants to know if the ingredients in indoor tanning lotions make a difference in how you tan. The Right Brain reponds:
Jessica, Jessica, Jessica. We’ll skip the lecture about how bad tanning is for your skin and instead we’ll just jump right in and start bashing tanning accelerators. To put it scientifically, these tyrosine tanners are bulls**t. The companies that sell pills and lotions with tryosine claim that they stimulate the production of melanin, the natural pigment that makes you look tan. Unfortunately, that’s just not true.
It is true that tyrosine plays a role in the tanning process. It’s an amino acid that your body forms by breaking down the protein you eat. This amino acid is then broken down by an enyzme called tryosinase that is formed by melanin-producing cells in your skin known as melanocytes. This reaction converts tyrosine into a chemical called DOPA. DOPA reacts further to form Dopaquinone which in turn forms the different types of melanin. (Eumelanin is black-brown and pheomelanin is yellow-red.) This chain reaction is triggered when your skin is exposed to UV light.
How Tyrosine in Tanning Pills and Lotions Is Bad
But taking pills with tyrosine or rubbing a tyrosine lotion on your skin doesn’t really help the process. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, “Tanning accelerators, such as those formulated with the amino acid tyrosine or tyrosine derivatives, are ineffective … evidence suggests they don’t work. FDA considers them unapproved new drugs that have not been proven safe and effective.” It makes sense if you think about it - swallowing a chemical like tyrosine or rubbing it on your skin doesn’t necessarily make it available to the right metabolic pathways.
So shame on all the companies out there marketing tyrosine-based products! Shame on you Hawaiin Tropic Tan 2 Max. Shame on you Reviva Sun Tan Protection Lotion. And shame on YOU, Bio-tan Sunless Tanner.
The Brains Bottom Line: Don’t waste your money on tyrosine tanning accelerators, they don’t do anything special for your tan.

Awesome article!

Mental health experts say tanning could make people happier


The winter months can seem like an eternity, leading many to feel a little sluggish and even blue The long days of winter seem to often bring out the worst in people."It`s like oh god, you can tell its winter, I`m white, and I don`t like that feeling I love to be dark," Cathy Smith, tanner, said. Medical experts call it seasonal affective disorder."The ups and down with the weather kind of throws people in that up and down mode also," Vicky Myers, mental health expert, said.Studies show that about half a million Americans struggle with the winter blues but others simply fight it. "A lot of people will come in and tan to get rid of the blues," Karen Neff, owner of Tanfastic, said.Neff said Tanfastic sees a lot more business this time of the year because her customers want to go where the sun is always shinning. "They want to get their color back they`re craving the sunshine, because in our part of the country we loose so much vitamin D during the winter time," Neff said."I mean the tan alone makes you feel better and you glow and then you put on the baby oil and you sparkle," Smith said.If tanning doesn`t spark an interest, simply opening up a curtain can begin to lift your spirit."Get outside, take walks, try to get as much natural sun light as you can, stay active physically," Myers said.The good news is the winter blues will soon drift away as spring rolls in. Medical experts said seasonal affective disorder begins to wear off about this time of year, when more sun typically replaces clouds.But is tanning bad for people?The tanning industry and dermatologists are in disagreement when it comes to indoor tanning. Doctors have often argued that tanning salons can cause cancer.Local tanning salon owners said the key is moderation."I think there is a happy medium that you have to get to, you don`t want to burn your skin," Neff said. "You can get good vitamin D, just with moderate tanning."The sun provides your body with enough vitamin D to fight off other cancers. So its up to the person to decide where and how you will get that vitamin D.

Infrared Sauna technology

Most North American and Western European college/university physical education complexes and many public sports centers and gyms include sauna facilities. They may also be present at public and private swimming pools. This may be a separate area where swimming wear may be taken off or a smaller facility in the swimming pool area where one should keep the swimming wear on.
Under many circumstances, temperatures approaching and exceeding 100 °C (212 °F) would be completely intolerable. Saunas overcome this problem by controlling the humidity saunas have very low humidity levels, which allows air temperatures that could boil water to be tolerated and even enjoyed for long periods of time. Other types of sauna, such as the hammam, where the humidity approaches 100%, will be set to a much lower temperature of around 40 °C (104 °F) to compensate. The "wet heat" would cause scalding if the temperature were set much higher. Finer control over the temperature experienced can be achieved by choosing a higher level bench for those wishing a hotter experience or a lower level bench for a more moderate temperature. Good manners
Infrared saunas are growing in popularity, using far infraredd rays emitted by infrared heaters to create warmth.

As warm weather sparks our appetite, a number of pale bodies will soon prepare to lube up and lie under artificial sunlight until their skin darkens to a desired shade. It seems strange but does it sound familiar? Whether it does or not, today, we will venture to discover the costs and benefits of this bronzing phenomenon. The benefits of tanning lie in four main areas: it is a source of vitamin D, a treatment for certain skin disorders, it activates the release of endorphins and damages less deep skin tissue comparative to conventional sunbathing. To begin, sunlight creates vitamin D synthesis in the body. Vitamin D, according to the Medical College of Wisconsin, "maintain[s] normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus." In other words, vitamin D is good for your bones.

Sunlight exposure is very important to the human body, according to the National Institutes of Health, because it is the primary source of vitamin D for most individuals. Secondly, several skin disorders, like acne, psoriasis, and eczema, are treatable with moderate tanning. Nevertheless, this treatment should be prescribed by an individual's doctor.In addition to this, UV ray absorption releases endorphins in the human body which are the body's natural pain killers. Endorphins are also released when an individual works out.

This is why activities like tanning and exercise are theoretically addictive (but we will get to that later).Lastly, on a comparative analysis, the UVB rays from indoor tanning do not penetrate one's skin as deep as outdoor tanning. This is why tans from indoor sources fade quicker. Therefore, on the positive side, tanning can be quite beneficial in several ways; nevertheless, there are consequences to overuse.

The negative side of this activity is that one has a high probability to develop cancer, accelerate the aging process, and possibly, develop an addiction to tanning. It is a well-known fact that excess UV rays cause skin cancer. While cancer can be heredity-influenced, tanning can accelerate this process. This sort of issue should not be taken lightly. Individuals with pale skin or that have a history of skin cancer should take necessary precautions, prescribed by your doctor, when considering tanning inside or outside.

Next, just as everyone has seen the 30-year-old tanning bed queen that looks like a grandparent, people understand that the sun dries out and ages one's skin. Excessive sun exposure depletes the oil in your skin that keeps it flexible and youthful. In other words, that tan may look good now, but "every action has an equal and opposite reaction." Lastly, based on the endorphins explained earlier, tanning is theorized to be an addictive activity because it may give individuals an overall sense of well-being.

This sort of addiction should not be confused with tanorexia (an individual's perception that their skin is too pale). In the end, these two types of addictions are not accepted medical conditions and are thought to be caused by other variables. Nevertheless, it is always best to be informed of what could potentially happen.To conclude, I apply tanning like this - moderation with education. Do not be ignorant about what you do to yourself; it is your body and you will pay the consequences for your actions. So, know your family history, understand the risks, and then, apply it in moderation.

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