Skin consists of three major parts which are the Epidermis, Dermis, and Hypodermis. The Epidermis is the superficial region, the dermis is the middle region, and the hypodermis is the most deepest region. There are three important types of skin cancer that are most common, which are the Basal cell carcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma, and Melanoma. Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, and the most complicated to get rid of because it is resistant to chemotherapy and it is highly metastatic. It is pigment-producing cells that are found in the skin. This type of skin cancer is the eighth most common cancer that is found in the United States, and it kills 1 to 2% of cancer deaths. There are many risk factors that is associated with Melanoma, and some of them are if you have white light colored skin, if you use a tanning bed ten times a year before you are thirty, moles that change, and if you have a close family member that has Melanoma because it is hereditary. If you are really prone to getting skin cancer then it is best to use a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 when you go outside. To recognize if you do have Melanoma then it is best to use the ABCD rule. So, check the asymmetry of the mole by drawing a line through the mole and if the halves don't match then it is most likely abnormal, then if the border is not well defined then it is most likely abnormal, if there is an uneven color throughout the mole then it is a sign of danger, and if the mole is bigger than 6mm which is bigger than the size of a pencil eraser. If any of these rules don't match up and seems abnormal then you need to go see a doctor. The stage of cancer that the Melanoma is in is determined by how many millimeters thick the cancerous tissue is. If the cancer has spread to other parts of your body then it is best to remove the cancerous tissue if possible. Usually radiation therapy is not helpful because it is not easy to get rid of Melanoma. So, it is best to try and protect your skin the best you can from the sun.
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| This is an image of what Melanoma looks like. |
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| This is another image of Melanoma. |
