How to Prevent Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is one of the most common, and also one of the most preventable and treatable, kinds of cancer. Since May is skin cancer awareness month, and also the start of summer, we thought it’s a good time to talk about how you can prevent skin cancer from appearing in the first place.
Skin cancer is caused by the abnormal growth of skin cells and develops most often on areas where the skin is exposed to the sun, but it’s not limited to those areas, especially in the case of Melanoma.
Skin Cancer Symptoms and Signs
Skin cancer primarily grows on sun-exposed areas such as the face, lips, scalp, neck, ears, arms, hands, chest, and legs. It affects people with any skin tones, not only those with fairer skin.
There are three different types of skin cancer. Here are the signs you should watch out for:
Basal cell carcinoma:
Pearly or waxy bump
Flat brown or flesh-colored scar-like lesion
Primarily on sun-exposed areas
Squamous cell carcinoma:
Firm, red nodule
Flat lesion with a scaly or crusted surface
Primarily on sun-exposed areas
Melanoma:
Large brownish spot with darker speckles
Existing mole that changes color, size, feel, or starts to bleed
Small lesion with an irregular border or portions that appear white, red, or blue
Can form anywhere on body
Not all of these signs and changes mean that you have cancer, but it’s best to have it checked out as soon as possible.
Precancerous Skin Conditions To Look Out For
Sometimes we get weird bumps, new dark spots, and patches of scaly skin that aren’t cancer but are still cause for concern. Keep an eye out for these two precancerous skin conditions:
Keratoacanthoma
Keratoacanthoma is a dome-shaped skin cancer tumor that is usually found on sun-exposed skin such as the face, forearms, or hands. It can appear suddenly and grow larger over the course of few months, but then may slowly start to shrink and resolve itself. Keratoacanthoma tumors are usually considered benign or noncancerous. However, tumors that continue to grow can progress into Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Actinic Keratoses
Actinic Keratoses are precancerous growths that appear as dry, scaly patches or spots on the skin. This type of skin growth tends to develop in people over 40, after years of sun exposure. It usually develops in exposed areas such as the hands, forearms, neck, and head. If left untreated, Actinic Keratoses can develop into a type of skin cancer called Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
cause of Skin Cancer and Risk Factors
Skin cancer can affect anybody and any skin color whether you spend a lot of time in the sun or not. It occurs when mutations in the DNA of skin cells start to grow out of control and in an irregular manner. It usually begins in the epidermis, the top layer of the skin. The skin darkens when it is exposed to excessive UV radiation from sunlight or tanning beds to protect itself. In the context of being exposed to environmental toxins and a compromised immune system, the skin eventually gets injured.
Be aware of certain factors that make you more susceptible to skin cancer:
If you have fair skin, you are more likely to get skin cancer. Fair skin has less pigment (melanin) and thus less protection from UV rays. People with blond or red hair, light-colored eyes, freckles, and who are quick to burn in the sun are more at risk.
If you had a history of sunburns, such as one or more blistering sunburns when you were a child or teenager, you are in danger of developing skin cancer as an adult. If you constantly get sunburn as an adult, you’re also at risk.
Anyone who is exposed to the sun excessively, especially if you’re not protected by sunscreen or clothing, is in danger. This includes exposure to tanning lamps and beds.
If you live in a sunny or high-altitude climate where you are exposed to more sunlight or where the sunlight is the strongest, as in the case with high-altitude areas, you are exposed to more radiation.
If you have moles, there is a risk that these may become cancerous.
A family or personal history of skin cancer.
A weakened immune system, such as having HIV/AIDS or taking immunosuppressant drugs after an organ transplant.
Exposure to any form of radiation. Watch out for radiation treatment for skin conditions such as eczema and acne.
Exposure to toxic substances, such as heavy metals arsenic, lead, mercury or cadmium commonly found in animal products, fish, GMO crops (e.g., wheat, corn, soy, rice), alcohol, and processed ready-made food.
conventional Treatment of Skin Cancer
Depending on the kind of skin cancer and the severity of the cancer, there are different treatments available. Your doctor will examine the skin and may remove a sample for testing, or just remove the suspect area completely. Here are a few common ways skin cancer is treated:
Removal of the entire growth if the lesion is small.
Freezing the area with liquid nitrogen. When thawed, the dead tissue falls off.
Excisional surgery to cut out the cancerous tissue as well as part of the bordering, healthy skin.
Mohs surgery for larger, recurring, and difficult-to-treat cancers. The skin growth is removed layer by layer, and each piece is examined under a microscope until no abnormal cells remain. This kind of surgery doesn’t remove any healthy skin and is especially suitable for areas such as the nose.
Chemotherapy where drugs are used to kill the cancer cells.
If the cancer is limited to only the top layers, it can be treated by creams and lotions.
A combination of the above.
Integrative Skin Cancer Treatment
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the US and can be treated effectively if found early. It’s never too late to start protecting yourself from the sun. No one really likes wearing sunscreen, but it’s one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. There are also many natural ways to prevent skin cancer other than using sunscreen.
Integrative skin cancer treatment is based on strengthening the immune system and respecting the mind, body, and spirit of a person suffering from cancer. By utilizing time-tested, scientifically-proven, natural, non-toxic therapies a person is better supported and optimal self-healing can occur. Some of these integrated natural treatment plans include nutritional counselling, optimization of vitamins, supplements, and other immune boosters, and lifestyle coaching.
Since 85% of the immune system is within the digestive system, nutrition plays a critical role in both the prevention and treatment of cancer. Some foods can even help protect our skin from the damage caused by the sun's UV rays by ensuring the body produces healthy new skin cells. For example, green tea, olive oil, leafy greens, colorful vegetables, dark chocolate, and legumes are rich in antioxidants which can directly help prevent skin cancer. A nutrient-dense plant-based diet is crucial to maintaining a healthy immune system and for supportive cancer treatment.
Prevention of Skin Cancer
Prevention is always better than cure. Follow these tips to keep your risk as low as possible:
Avoid exposure to the sun in the middle of the day if possible. The sun is the strongest between 10 am and 4 pm in the United States.
Wear natural sunscreen, such as coconot, olive, or sunflower oil. Apply sunscreen SPF 15 after first being in the sun for 15 to 20 minutes so that you can activate Vitamin D production. Vitamin D is critical to preventing skin cancer.
Wear protective clothes, a broad-rimmed hat, and sunglasses that block UV rays.
Avoid tanning beds entirely.
Avoid medicines that make the skin more sensitive, such as antibiotics like doxycycline.
Check your skin regularly for any abnormal skin changes. You should check it yourself every month with the use of a mirror to view all areas. Let your doctor check your skin once a year.
Whenever you notice some kind of change in your skin, make sure you let your doctor check it out as soon as possible. It might be nothing, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
AUTHOR
Dr. Payal Bhandari M.D. is one of U.S.'s top leading integrative functional medical physicians and the founder of SF Advanced Health. She combines the best in Eastern and Western Medicine to understand the root causes of diseases and provide patients with personalized treatment plans that quickly deliver effective results. Dr. Bhandari specializes in cell function to understand how the whole body works. Dr. Bhandari received her Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in 1997 and Doctor of Medicine degree in 2001 from West Virginia University. She the completed her Family Medicine residency in 2004 from the University of Massachusetts and joined a family medicine practice in 2005 which was eventually nationally recognized as San Francisco’s 1st patient-centered medical home. To learn more, go to www.sfadvancedhealth.com.