Ailments and Situations - Skin Cancer - Causes

 

Causes:

The main cause of skin cancer is over-exposure to the sun (especially resulting in sunburn) over the course of several years. Merely one sunburn can increase your risk of developing skin cancer by 50%. It is also important to note that most people receive approximately 86% of their lifetime exposure to the sun before they reach 18 years of age. Some sources also believe that lack of sun exposure can lead to skin cancer (see "Vitamin D" under Remedies-Vitamins, below).

UVB rays are the portion of the light spectrum that are thought to be particularly dangerous. UVB is absorbed by DNA and other biological macromolecules causing a variety of reactions that may lead to genetic mutations. If these mutations persist, their cumulated effect may result in cancer many years down the road. Most UVB rays entering Earth's atmosphere are blocked by the ozone layer. As the ozone layer depletes and holes are formed, an increased amount of UVB passes onto the earth and into your skin.

Some scientists believe that UVA may play a role in the development of melanomas.

Paget's Disease of the nipple often originates from an existing cancer of breast milk ducts.

 

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