Treatment For Skin Cancer
For the most part, skin cancer is treated the same way indark-skinned people as it is in those with lighter skin.
It begins with surgery to remove the cancer. However, takingadditional precautions can reduce scarring in people with darker skin, as theytend to suffer from thick scars, known as keloids.
If a patient comes to me with basal cell carcinoma, whichis the most common type of skin cancer, I ask about any previous experiencewith scars, Dr. Kyei explains. The reason I ask that question is that I dontwant someone to end up with a thick scar somewhere noticeable like their face.If youre someone who tends to get thick keloids and your cancer is verysuperficial and not high-risk, we might start with a chemotherapy cream as aninitial treatment method instead of surgery.
Despite the potential for scarring, surgery is the onlytreatment method for melanoma. Melanoma is deadly, Dr. Kyei says. It has tobe cut out no matter what.
Injected steroids can sometimes help minimize scarring.
Risk Factors And Causes Of Skin Cancer
Despite the fact that high melanin content confers better photo protection, significant photo damage in the form of epidermal atypia and atrophy, dermal collagen and elastin damage and pigmentary disorders can cause skin cancer which could be fatal due to delay in detection in skin of color . Skin cancer is skin growth with varying degrees of malignancy . It is not yet very clear why skin cancer incidence has grown so dramatically over the past decades but the reason is likely to be multi factorial which includes increased UV exposure, environmental, hereditary risk factors and improved surveillance and earlier recognition . In addition, genetic polymorphisms also modulate the susceptibility to skin cancer .
Organ transplant receivers especially kidney and HIV patients have an increased frequency of skin cancers . Some treatments, including radiation therapy, phototherapy, psoralen and long-wave ultraviolet radiation can also predispose to skin malignancies . Viral infections such as the human papilloma virus can cause cancer. Patients with familial genetic patterns are vulnerable to particular types of skin cancers . Certain drugs, from common antibiotics to heart medications, can increase the skins sensitivity to sunlight, causing the skin to burn in less time and may increase the incidence of skin cancer .
Does Chemo Change Your Face
Skin changes also occur during chemotherapy. Certain chemotherapy drugs can cause temporary redness in the face and neck. This happens when the blood capillaries, which are the smallest part of blood vessels, enlarge and expand. The skin also can get dry, become darker or even more pale.
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Signs Of Skin Cancer: 6 Symptoms You May Not Know About
bySeptember 27, 2021, 2:31 am
One single sunburn increases your risk for skin cancer. If you think youre safe, think again. Skin cancer, among other cancers, is more common than you would expect. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans develop it during their lifetime.
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells that develops on areas of the skin exposed to the sun. Although those with fairer skin who burn easily are at a higher risk, this disease does affect all skin tones. Ready for a surprise? Men between the ages of 15 and 39 are 55% more likely to die of skin cancer than women in that same age bracket.
Before we get to the symptoms, lets take a closer look at the different kinds of skin cancer. According to SunSmart, there are three main types: melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma is the most deadly, but both BCC and SCC are no joke. No matter the type, early detection is your best defense.
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends everyone do a monthly head-to-toe check to look for any changing moles or lesions on the body that may be cancerous or precancerous. Skin cancers that are found and removed early on are almost always curable, even melanoma. Early treatment is important for all types of skin cancer. If you see a skin abnormality, see your doctor right away. And family history matters as well, so you may want to be more rigorous with screening if it runs in your genes.
Why Is Skin Cancer Less Common In Black People
To understand why skin cancer is less common in Black people, its important to understand a little skin biology.
Normally, all skin contains a pigment called melanin. However, compared with white skin, black skin has a higher amount of melanin.
Higher amounts of melanin absorb or reflect more UV rays from the sun, helping to better protect skin cells from harm. This level of protection isnt present in white skin, making it more vulnerable to damage from UV rays.
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How To Differentiate Harmless Sunspots From Skin Cancer
- Sunspots are permanent, dark flat spots that appear on areas of skin frequently exposed to the sun.
- Sunspots are harmless but may be mistaken for a more serious symptom like skin cancer.
- Check the asymmetry, color, diameter, and how the spot changes over time to ensure it’s not cancer.
Sunspots are flat, dark spots that appear on parts of your skin that you frequently expose to the sun, such as your face, hands, arms, shoulders, and feet.
While anyone can develop these spots, they are particularly common in people with light skin over the age of 40, especially those who spend a lot of time in the sun.
Genetics also play a role, so having a family history of sunspots can make you more likely to get them.
Note: Sunspots are also known as age spots, solar lentigines, and liver spots although they don’t have anything to do with liver function.
Sunspots are permanent marks that are harmless, so you don’t need to remove them for health reasons. However, if you don’t like their appearance, there are steps you can take to lighten them.
Here are some tips on how to prevent sunspots and reduce their appearance, as well as how to differentiate a sunspot from something more serious like skin cancer.
Can Chemo Cause Dark Spots Or Discoloration On The Skin
Chemotherapy, like many other drug therapy treatments, can have side effects and reactions. It is not uncommon for skin reactions to occur during chemo treatment. These skin reactions may manifest as dark spots or discoloration.
Skin ReactionsSkin discoloration is a common skin change during chemo treatment. Discoloration often presents as dark spots, and is more common in people who have darker skin tones. Discoloration may present as hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation , depending on the individual, and the chemo drug being used. Chemotherapy treatment can also cause a wide range of other skin symptoms, including dryness and peeling, redness, rashes, photosensitivity and even acne.
Oncology Skin CareTo help with these skin reactions during chemotherapy, many patients look toward different means of oncology skin care. There are a number of recommendations to help minimize discoloration, and to help increase aesthetics for cancer patients.
First, your oncologist may be able to recommend some specialized creams that can help reduce discoloration and other side effects. You should also make sure that any moisturizers and cleansers that you choose to use are mild and non-irritating, and do not contain any alcohol that is drying to the skin.
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People With Darker Skin Are Just As Affected By The Suns Rays Which Can Lead To Skin Cancer Sun Spots And Uneven Skin
Somewhere along the road we have all heard that one of the many blessings of darker skin are reduced chances of sunburn and minimal tanning potential. But in reality the sun does not discriminate. Also Read – Real vs Fake Mithai: Easy Ways to Find if Sweets You Are Buying Are Pure or Not | Watch Video
People with darker skin are just as affected by the suns rays, which can lead to skin cancer, sun spots and uneven skin-tone. Just last week the Surgeon General issued a call to action citing skin cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States with over five million people seeking treatment each year. Also Read – World Arthritis Day 2021: Everything You Need To Know About Arthritis, Explained | Watch Video
The best way to protect yourself against sunburns and skin cancer is to educate yourself and incorporate sunscreen and sunblock into your daily routine.
Before you make your way to the nearest sunscreen aisle you should read up on a few important facts to pick the right sunscreen for your skin.
What Causes Hyperpigmentation
Some chemotherapy agents can cause hyperpigmentation. The cause of this side effect is currently unknown but may involve direct toxicity, stimulation of melanocytes and/or inflammation. Hyperpigmentation often appears 2 to 3 weeks after chemotherapy treatment begins and goes away as new skin cells replace the dead cells at approximately 10 to 12 weeks after treatment is over. However, this darkening may occasionally be permanent.
Chemotherapy drugs associated with temporary hyperpigmentation include:
- Melphalan
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Skin Tone Getting Darker
The skin tone can be getting darker for so many reasons. That you are not going to bother until it causes a huge problem. Among these normal reasons, one basic reason is hyperpigmentation that has the main role to make the skin darker.
This hyperpigmentation is a common and normal phenomenon that can occur on your skin and you can treat it by regular cleansing and remain covered when you have to directly expose to the sun and blue light coming out from the electric gadgets. This is common in people with olive skin tone.
Protect Yourself In The Sun
Brown skin does give you a leg up on skin protection. It has more melanin, the pigment that gives you color. Melanin helps protect against sun damage. But alone, itâs not enough:
- Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30.
- Donât go in the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Avoid getting sunburned.
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What Changes In The Skin Occur Due To Exposure To The Sun
Exposure to sun causes most of the wrinkles and age spots on our faces. People think a glowing complexion means good health, but skin color obtained from being in the sun can actually speed up the effects of aging and increase the risk of developing skin cancer.
Sun exposure causes most of the skin changes that we think of as a normal part of aging. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet light damages the fibers in the skin called elastin. When these fibers break down, the skin begins to sag, stretch, and lose its ability to go back into place after stretching. The skin also bruises and tears more easily in addition to taking longer to heal. So while sun damage to the skin may not be apparent when you’re young, it will definitely show later in life. The sun can also cause issues for your eyes, eyelids, and the skin around the eyes.
Changes in the skin related to sun exposure:
- Precancerous and cancerous skin lesions caused by loss of the skin’s immune function.
- Benign tumors.
- Fine and coarse wrinkles.
- Freckles discolored areas of the skin, called mottled pigmentation and sallowness, yellow discoloration of the skin.
- Telangiectasias, the dilation of small blood vessels under the skin.
- Elastosis, the destruction of the elastic tissue causing lines and wrinkles.
How People Of Color Can Reduce Their Skin Cancer Risk
Dermatologists in the United States tell their patients with skin of color to reduce their risk of getting skin cancer by doing the following:
Seek shade whenever possible. The sun causes many skin cancers.
Wear clothing that protects your skin from the sun. A wide-brimmed hat can shade your face and neck. You also want to wear shoes that cover the entire foot. African Americans often develop skin cancer on their feet.
Wear sunscreen. Yes, people of color should wear sunscreen. Dermatologists recommend that people of color use sunscreen that has:
Apply sunscreen to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. You want to apply sunscreen to skin that will be bare. Be sure to apply sunscreen every day even on cloudy days.
When outdoors, reapply sunscreen. You want to reapply:
Never use tanning beds or sunlamps. These emit harmful UV rays, which can cause skin cancer.
Skin of color: How to prevent and detect skin cancer
Although people of color have a lower risk of developing skin cancer than Caucasians, when skin cancer develops in people of color, it is often diagnosed at a more advanced stage making it more difficult to treat.
Follow these tips from dermatologists to protect your skin from the sun and reduce your risk of skin cancer.
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How To Get Rid Of Sunspots
There are topical treatments and dermatological procedures that can lighten sunspots’ appearance however, it’s always best to consult a dermatologist to determine which approach is best for you, says Kathleen Suozzi, MD, a dermatologist at Yale Medicine.
To understand how the following treatments work, it’s important to mention how sunspots form in the first place. They appear darker than the surrounding skin because what you’re actually seeing is a concentrated patch of a natural skin pigment called melanin, which gives your skin its color.
Darker people typically have more melanin. You can ramp up melanin production by spending time in the sun or a tanning bed.
With that in mind, here are six common treatments for reducing the appearance of sunspots:
You may also find other “remedies” by casually browsing the internet, but keep in mind that there’s no scientific evidence to back the effectiveness of applying any of the following to your skin for sunspots:
- Apple cider vinegar
Skin Cancer: More Deadly In People Of Color
One disturbing new trend is the apparent increase in skin cancer mortality in people of color.
The increase in skin cancer is attributed to lower public awareness of the risk of the disease among individuals of color. Because of this, this group of people is also less likely to practice sun-safe behaviors like using sunscreen, to go to the doctor for skin exams, or to do skin self-exams.
In addition, healthcare providers may be less diligent about looking for skin cancer in patients of color because they dismiss the risk, too.
The notion that they are immune to skin cancer is particularly strong in some cultures. The belief that Hispanic people dont have to worry about skin cancer has existed among Latinos for generations, says , a dermatologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
They hear it from their parents and grandparents, and then they pass this belief on to their children, says Dr. Perez. Perez cites a study of high school students in which 43 percent of Latinos never or rarely used sunscreen. This same group of students was also 2.5 times more likely to have used tanning beds in the last year.
In a study published in March 2019 in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Perez found a 20 percent increase in the number of Hispanics diagnosed with melanoma in the past 20 years.
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Hyperpigmentation Causes Dark Skin
Hyperpigmentation mostly the main cause of the skin dullness. In this condition, the dark patches appear due to the excessive production of melanin on the skin. This production enhance due to the dark spots and acne scars. When due to acne scars the dark spots appear on the skin.
These dark spots reduce the image when they remain on the skin for a long time and this is the main reason for the hyperpigmentation.
This hyperpigmentation reduces the glow and form hard dark patches on the skin that penetrates deep inside the skin. The deep penetration of these spots make you darker for no reason for a very long time. This pigmentation occurs due to an activity that occurs a long time ago that activity may be pimple, acne or formation of whiteheads or blackheads. The leftover of that activity may form hyperpigmentation make you dull and fade your skin tone.
How Can I Stop My Skin From Darkening
How to get rid of hyperpigmentation
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The Ugly Duckling Method
The ugly duckling method works on the premise that a personâs moles tend to resemble one another. If one mole stands out in any way, it may indicate skin cancer.
Of course, not all moles and growths are cancerous. However, if a person notices any of the above characteristics, they should speak with a doctor.
Dark Circle Causing Diseases
Kidney Failure: In condition related to damage of the kidney, the kidney does not filter the body fluid properly. When blood has not filtered, the presence of the toxic impurities increases. Increase in toxins in the blood may lead to water retention, which may lead to dark circles
Anemia: Anemia is caused by the deficiency of the iron in the body. Iron deficiency leads to reduced hemoglobin concentration. Reduced hemoglobin affects the body in two ways. It may reduce the intensity of the color of blood and also the supply of oxygen gets reduced.
Fatigue is caused by the deficiency of the iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 in the body. A person with the fatigue feels overtired and weak leading to mental and physical illness. Because of weakness and tiredness in the body, the blood vessels under the eyes are visible and the skin becomes darker.
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