INTRODUCTION: Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed cancer, occuring more often than lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. it generally develops in the epidermis (the outer layer of skin), so a tumor is usually clearly visible.

If left untreated, the disease can be very dangerous, but with early detection and medical intervention most are curable. There are three common kinds of skin cancer, of which each is named after the type of skin cell from which it arises. More than 1,000,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008.

CAUSE: Skin cancer is an abnormal growth on the skin which can have many causes. It is often caused by exposing skin to UV rays excessively. Cancers caused by Ultraviolet exposure may be prevented by avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight or other UV sources, and wearing sun-protecting garments.

Many people go out of their way to get an artificial tan before they depart for a sunny vacation, because they want to get a “base coat” to reduce the risk of sun damage. Sunburn, due to a type of ultraviolet (UV) light known as UVB, has served as a surrogate for much more serious conditions like melanoma and basal and squamous cell carcinoma, three common types of skin cancer.

RISK: Although it is impossible to completely eliminate the chance of developing skin cancer, the risk of developing it can be reduced significantly using the following steps: reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, especially in the childhood years, avoiding sunburns (NOTE: New studies have shown that sunscreen does not offer protection from melanoma). Although it is generally accepted that Ultraviolet exposure is the greatest risk factor in melanoma development, some skeptics say that there is no actual proven data that links moderate exposure to the sun with the appearance of melanoma.

The risk of developing skin cancer is also affected by where a person lives. People who live in areas that receive high levels of UV radiation from the sun are more likely to develop skin cancer. In the United States, for example, skin cancer is more common in Texas than it is in Minnesota, where the sun is not as strong. Worldwide, the highest rates of skin cancer are found in South Africa and Australia, which are areas that receive high amounts of UV radiation.

TYPES: The most common forms of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) which may be locally disfiguring but rarely metastasize (spread to other parts of the body). The most dangerous kind of skin cancer is malignant melanoma.

TREATMENT: Nearly all skin cancers can be treated by removal of the lesion, making sure that the edges (margins) are free of the cancerous cells. However,it is important that the tumors are found and treated early because they can invade and destroy nearby tissue.

CONCLUSION: Skin cancer is the most common form of human malignancies and is also known as skin neoplasia. The use of sunscreen is recommended by medical authorities as a preventative to help protect against skin cancer (NOTE: New studies however have shown that sunscreen offers no protection from melanoma). Approximately 65 percent of melanomas and 90% of basal and squamous cell skin cancers are attributed to Utraviolet exposure. Even though it is rare, malignant melanoma is responsible for 75% of all skin cancer related death cases.

It has also been estimated that almost half of all Americans who reach the age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once. The most common warning sign of a skin malignancy is a change in the skins appearance, such as a new growth or a sore that will not heal. The greatest number of skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun’s damaging effects begin early in life. Therefore, protection should start during childhood in order to prevent skin cancer later in life.

It seems that it was only in the middle of the last century that having a tan became desirable. Up until this point, people did not see tanned skin as a positive look but more than likely an indication that the person worked outdoors and was exposed to too much sunlight.

As prosperity became more tangible to people in the middle of the last century, having a lifestyle became more of a reality. The idea of leisure time was invented. People would dedicate time to going to the beach and spending time outdoors for relaxation. They had money to spend on vacations, often traveling to sunnier climates.

Pretty soon an all over tan could indicate affluence or a healthy lifestyle (which is not completely untrue). Looking tanned became desirable to the extent that people would go to the beach or spend time outdoors purely to get a sun tan.

The idea of having a year round sun tan soon became popular. Also, people wanted to get a tan before they started their annual vacation. With demand for these needs to be met, the idea of the sunbed evolved.

Ever since the development of the sunbed they have proved to be very popular. Tanning salons pop up at every mall or shopping center. Many gyms have a tanning salon too which reinforces the link between a tan and a healthy lifestyle.

But the question that most people that use sunbeds have and then choose to forget is are sunbeds healthy ?

It is actually very straightforward. Current research suggests that any form of exposure to ultra violet (UV) radiation will eventually lead to skin cancer. It makes no difference whether this UV radiation is from the sun or another source. Indeed, the only variation in this will be based on a persons skin type or other genetic factor like a family history of skin cancer.

Many people that use sunbeds may be at pains to point out that the radiation that a sunbed uses is different to the radiation from the Sun. UVB radiation is responsible for burning the skin in the Sun. It has a different frequency to the radiation used in sunbeds. A sunbed uses UVA radiation, that was thought to not be as harmful to the skin. For instance, it does not cause the skin to burn. However, recent research suggests that this is not the case and any UV radiation is harmful to the skin.

The point is that any kind of tanning is bad for the skin. Although it is impossible to avoid being exposed to the Sun’s UV rays, it is still important to take precautions like wearing a hat and protective clothing. And wearing sunscreen on unprotected areas. The same applies to the sunbed. Exposure to uv rays from a sunbed will be bad for the skin.

Topping up your sunbed tan every week or month is like going out in the Sun without any protection. Based on current research and advice, this seems like a risky activity for the sake of a glowing tan.

If you are suffering from acne problems, you may be wondering where you can find the best acne skin care products. Can these products be found online or are the best acne skin care products only found in drugstores, doctors’ clinics or from exclusive dealers? There are actually quite a large number of acne skin care products in the market today, and finding the best acne skin care products that will work for you is all a matter of finding the one that suits you best.

There are a lot of proactive acne skin care products available in the market that have treatment and maintenance programs that provide acne sufferers the kind of solution that will not only get rid of stubborn acne but also help keep it away for good. Since acne can easily recur, using a proactive acne skin care regimen is ideal, and it should be the kind of treatment used by acne prone individuals. Proactive acne skin care usually consists of products that are formulated to treat acne problems that a person already has on his skin. This may include treatments for scars brought about by acne. The next step in this kind of program is the use of cleansing agents to fight the possibility of the acne’s comeback. These may include cleansers, soaps, creams and other such products that have formulations that are specifically geared towards the prevention of acne recurrence.

Aside from these kinds of serious skin care acne treatments, a lot of skin doctors prescribe a daily routine that will help keep acne from recurring or increasing in number. This daily routine will require a change in eating habits, sleeping habits, cleanliness and hygiene. When it comes to eating habits, since excess oil is often the cause of acne, the intake of oil is sometimes reduced to a reasonable amount to help reduce the rate of oil production in a person’s skin. It is also important that you maintain the right sleeping habits because lack of sleep will also cause breakouts and acne. A person will often be advised to get more sleep to help keep his skin healthy and free of blemishes.

Hygiene is also one of the most important factors that a program for serious skin care acne sufferers should have. Keeping the skin clean at all times and using non-comedogenic and hypoallergenic cosmetics on your skin are some of the ways to keep acne at bay.

Washing the face with a mild facial wash or cleanser to remove any dirt before going to bed is also a very effective routine to follow if you want to keep pimples and other such troublesome breakouts away. Altogether, a change in lifestyle is needed if you wish to keep your skin healthy and radiant looking.Late nights, junk food, carelessness and all-around unhygienic practices can result in skin problems. While there are serious skin care acne medications for such breakouts, maintenance is the key to keeping your newly rejuvenated skin clean and acne free.