Sun rays, with their UV (ultraviolet)radiation, are the most effective external factor in the development of skin cancer in people exposed to rays. People who live in sunny areas, people with fair skin, those who work outdoors under the sun are likely to develop skin cancer, especially in body areas such as hands and face where the body is not covered by clothing. Patients sensitive to sunlight; especially people with light skin and hair color and blue eyes.
UV rays can cause chemical damage to the genes in skin cells, causing cell death and carcinogenic changes.
< br /> Normal DNA synthesis and cell proliferation are prevented in skin exposed to UV rays. The mentioned effects of UV rays on the skin can be reduced to some extent by the thickness of the skin layer, the presence of hair in that area and the high melanin content.
A person's Its susceptibility to skin cancer caused by UVrays is inversely proportional to the content of melanocyte cells in the skin. In other words, as the person's skin color becomes lighter, the melanocyte content decreases and the carcinogenic effect of sunlight increases.
Radiation due to sun rays UVA (315-400nm), UVB (290 It consists of -315nm)and UVC (200-290nm)wavelengths. The ozone layer in the atmosphere absorbs the UVC wave band. 95% of the radiation reaching human skin is in the UVA wavelength. However, the small amount of UVB wavelength that reaches the skin causes sunburns and chronic sun damage, as well as most long-term malignant skin lesions. Excessive UVB radiation, in addition to the long-term effects mentioned, also disrupts the normal functions of the immune system and increases the incidence and severity of skin cancer.
In summary, UVB radiation, It is more effective than UVA rays in the development of skin cancer. This is true for the development of both malignant melanoma and other skin cancers.
However, studies have shown that exposure to UVA also causes malignant melanoma. It has been shown to increase the risk of skin rash.
Commonly used sunscreens block UVB rays, but are permeable to UVA. UVA makes up 90-95% of the UVenergy in sunlight. Therefore, sunscreens that do not protect against UVA do not reduce the risk of developing malignant melanoma. Again, studies investigating the relationship between sunburns and the risk of developing melanoma have revealed a stable relationship. In particular, it shows that an increase in the number of blistering sunburns increases the risk of melanoma. Studies suggest that sunburns, especially in childhood, are more dangerous than those at older ages. In the development of malignant melanoma, occasional sun exposure, such as summer holidays, is a more important risk factor than chronic-continuous sun exposure, such as working on farms or construction sites.
Therefore, it is important to be protected from the negative effects of the sun, starting from childhood. . It is important that the sunscreens used are of good quality and contain protection against both UVAand UVB waves.
Long-term exposure to UV rays. As a result of long-term exposure, with the accumulation of the mentioned harmful effects, lesions called actinic keratosis or solar keratosis occur in later ages. Lesions may be multiple, usually in sun-exposed areas. Although these lesions are not initially malignant, they are lesions that can be precursors to skin cancer.
If no results are achieved with any medical treatment in 3-4 weeks in the development of such skin lesions, they should be suspected and a dermatologist or plastic surgeon should be consulted. .
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