Aging And Risk Of Skin Cancer: Causes And Prevention

Types of Skin Cancer, Their Causes, and Symptoms

The three main types of skin cancer are:

1. Squamous cell carcinoma
2. Malignant melanoma.
3. Basal cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is a common condition primarily found in sun-exposed areas like the ears, hands, and face with darker skin individuals more susceptible to developing it in areas not frequently exposed to the sun. It is typically presented as a firm, red nodule.

Melanoma

Anywhere on the body, including healthy skin and diseased moles, melanoma can grow as a cancerous mole. Men typically get it on their faces or trunks, whilst women typically get it on their lower thighs.

Melanoma can affect people of all skin types; however, it tends to occur more frequently on darker skin tones on the palms, soles, or under the fingernails. Even skin that hasn’t been exposed to the sun can acquire melanoma.

Large brown patches with darker speckles, moles that alter in appearance or feel, small lesions with uneven boundaries, painful burns or itches, and black lesions on the soles, palms, fingertips, or toes are all indications that you may have melanoma.

Basal cell carcinoma

Skin cancer, primarily basal or squamous cell carcinomas, appears on the hands, neck, and other exposed skin. As they don’t spread to other body areas, these tumors develop slowly and rarely result in death.

They are a serious worry because, despite being easily removed through surgery, they might result in scarring, deformity, or loss of function in particular locations.

A pearl-shaped or waxy bump, a flat, flesh or brown scar-colored lesion, or a scabbing or bleeding sore that cures and recurs are all possible symptoms of basal cell carcinoma.

Less Common Skin Cancer Types

Some of the less common skin cancer types are as follows:

Kaposi sarcoma

An uncommon kind of skin cancer called Kaposi sarcoma causes red or purple spots where blood vessels have been affected. It is usually found in people with compromised immune systems, such as those who have AIDS, and people who use drugs that reduce natural immunity, like people who have had organ transplants. Additionally, elderly males of Italian or Eastern European Jewish descent as well as those born in Africa are more likely to have it.

Merkel cell carcinoma

A rare condition called Merkel cell carcinoma causes firm, shiny nodules under the skin and follicles of hair, and is typically found in the head, neck, and trunk.

Sebaceous gland carcinoma

Sebaceous gland carcinomas, rare and aggressive, originate from skin oil glands and typically appear as hard, painless nodules on the eyelid, often mistaken for other eyelid issues.

Aging and Risk Of Skin Cancer

Numerous older participants were given skin cancer diagnoses during the TBSE, according to a population-based study on skin malignancies and related risk factors in older people, underscoring the significance of skin examinations for older people. The North-Savo Skin Cancer Program in Finland focuses on primary and secondary prevention, while the European Skin Cancer Foundation has introduced prevention measures including Sun Pass Kindergarten. The detection of skin malignancies and their precursors is advised for doctors who treat elderly patients. A patient’s elevated risk of developing new skin malignancies may be indicated by a prior history of skin cancer. Men are more susceptible to skin cancer and its precursors than women, thus older men should be treated with caution. The specific situation must be considered while deciding on treatment alternatives, nevertheless, and be careful.