All About Skin Cancer

Putting sun block lotion in your skin, regardless if the sun is out or not, is a must. Sun block lotion is the best protection for your skin whenever you are going outdoors. It protects your skin from the sun’s harmful ultra violet rays and prevent your skin from any damage that the sun might cause you. So, how do you choose the best sun block lotion to use?

When buying a sun block lotion, you have to consider its SPF factor. SPF comes in many variants; there is the SPF 15, 30 or 45. The higher the SPF of the sun block lotion the more it gives your skin the protection from both UVA and UVB rays.

You might also consider purchasing sun block lotion that is both water proof and sweat proof, most especially if you do a lot of physical activities outdoors.

When applying sun block lotion, you should apply it to your skin at least 20 minutes before sun exposure. Then, reapply at least every 80 minutes if possible to get the most effective result.

This fanciful name given to children born with a unique condition comes with its own painful and heartbreaking reality.

“Butterfly children” is a name given to infants born with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a condition that causes the absence of proteins that anchor the epidermis to the dermis, and therefore causes the skin to be extremely fragile. A simple rub, scrape, or point of pressure is enough to tear the skin off, or cause painful blisters. They are called butterfly children because their skin is considered to be as delicate as butterfly wings. The fragility of the child’s skin doesn’t stop externally – this condition also affects the child’s esophagus, tongue, and even the genital-rectal region. Simple everyday functions become painful for the child, but necessary – eating can cause scraping of the esophagus, making its walls thinner and thinner as time goes by. Sleeping itself can cause painful blisters that must be popped in the morning.

At present, there is no known cure for EB. It has been proven that children born with EB may end up developing skin cancer, thus the urgency to find a cure is now needed more than ever.

photo credit: chicks57 via photopin cc

A skin biopsy is done to check and examine skin tissue to determine whether or not it is cancerous or there is any abnormal skin cells present in you. This medical procedure is done by removing a small sample of skin tissue then processed under a microscope. Skin biopsy can be done in several methods, depending on the size and location of the suspect skin lesion. If you undergone skin biopsy, there are ways you can do to heal from it.

Step 1: Wash well your hands with soap and water before touching the biopsy area.
Step 2: Remove the bandage or surgical dressing 24 hours after the biopsy.
Step 3: Wash the wound area with a hypoallergenic soap, then, pat it dry with a clean towel. Place a small amount of over-the-counter antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly to the biopsy site to keep the wound moist until it has completely healed. Do it several times a day.
Step 4: Cover the biopsy area with a bandage or clean gauze pad. Otherwise, you may not need to keep the biopsy site covered unless your doctor directs you to do so.
Step 5: Do the steps 1 to 4, until the wound has completely cured.
Skin biopsy takes several weeks before it completely heals, most probably. 2 months, and may leave a small scar.

But more importantly, remember that as a writer of this blog, I’m just sharing my experience with skin cancer and skin biopsy. My  experience and tips might or might not apply to everybody. So rather than just reading an article here at my blog, you dont need to learn thai or any other language to understand that whatever your doctor says is what’s the best for you.

Staying out in the sun for too long is on top of the list of ways to give yourself skin cancer. There’s a very good reason why people working in the field are encouraged to bring their own shade and cover up. Farmers wear wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved breathable cotton shirts, and so do constructions workers – with the exception of the hard hat, of course. The sun doesn’t just bake your skin in its heat – the science is more than skin-deep. We are talking about infrared waves cooking your skin cells at a much more intrinsic level, and the longer you expose yourself to these things… well, it certainly goes without saying, doesn’t it?

Enter Actinic Keratosis. This nasty-sounding symptom is just as nasty to look at over time, This manifests on your skin as a pink, scaly lesion that grows scalier and even more swollen over time.

photo credit: euthman via photopin cc

Having Melanoma on your skin is no joke. This skin cancer all starts with a clump of malignant skin cells that spreads and infects other skin cells over a period of time. They can be found mostly on any part of the human body, as well as in unusual places, such as the bowels and even the eye. While this is normally not that harmful in its beginning stages. It can be very fatal when it is not detected in its early phases.

Now, for the good news: there is now a drug that can combat late-stage melanoma quickly and efficiently. Vemurafenib is manufactured by Plexxicin and Hoffman-La Roche, and is beginning to show much promise in the research labs. In the trials that have put the drugs efficacy and safety to the test, the only two side effects that patients have mentioned were (1) arthalgia, or arthritic pain without the usual swelling with arthritis, and (2) lesions that may need to be removed surgically. However, the drug has shown positive results as far as disease combat is concerned.

photo credit: pasukaru76 via photopin cc

Whether you’re out hiking, playing sports, biking, or having some beach fun, the one iron-clad rule before going out in the sun is to wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is a vital ingredient in protecting yourself against overexposure to the sun’s rays. It’s right up there with big, stylish, floppy hats, visors, umbrellas, and shades. Luckily, there are many different types of sunscreen to choose from at your local drugstore or supermarket.

However, if you’re the type who’s very particular about what goes into your sunscreen, and you’re able with your own hands, why not try making your own sunscreen?

Homemade sunscreen is a great option to consider. As mentioned earlier, you know what ingredients will go into it, so you are assured that you are using 100% natural products. You can make as much sunscreen as you want, so you won’t have to worry about running out of it when you go swimming. Plus, you can also share your DIY sunscreen and impress your friends!

Here’s a recipe that uses essential oils and natural butters to both protect your skin and moisturize it deeply.

photo credit: the half-blood prince via photopin cc

Everybody has heard of the Genome project, the DNA mapping project that aims to map out the entire human DNA sequence and define/identify all the parts they play in our daily lives. It turns out that there is a specific gene that handles the skin’s response to the Sun’s Ultraviolet rays triggering the tanning process and researchers are thrilled of the prospect of using that gene in preventive/treatment products for commercial use. The said gene triggers the tanning process instead of the usual cancerous effects thus preventing cells from mutating into the beginnings of cancer. The said gene is also attributed to be the primary reason why we humans are attracted to the sun even after all the detrimental effects overexposure have been made apparent. For more information check out the article on Science Daily.com, the premiere source of news regarding the field of research.

Summertime is the perfect time to hit the beach! (Or sometimes, a swimming pool!) Summer is the season where all the bikinis, inflatable pool toys, and scintillating dance tunes come out of storage. Summer evokes popular images from music videos – perfectly round booties, golden sun-tanned skin, and wet looks on ladies all around. Muscled dudes freely mack on the ladies, and and risk getting sand thrown at them and spoiling their tans. It’s a time for water sports, divebombs, and watching the molten-gold sun sink into the horizon.

Hold up – before you start shedding clothes and wriggling into your bikinis, have you out on your sunscreen yet? Sunscreen is essential to keeping your skin healthy through long sun exposure. In these cases, tanning lotion is just not enough. It is important to keep hydrated as well, and to seek shelter when the sun gets too hot. No sunburn, no heat stroke, no problem!

photo credit: WalterPro4755 via photopin cc

It’s been touted to be a dangerous drug. You can smoke it, drink it in your tea, and drop it on your tongue. Counter-culture advocates fight for it to be taken seriously as a legitimate medical treatment for cancer patients. The ubiquitous image of the five-finger plant can be seen on bandannas, t-shirts, rasta hats, and more.

Marijuana is indeed a controversial plant, and deemed illegal in most countries all over the world. However, what if this plant might actually be a miracle cure for skin cancer?

Recently, studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of paste derived from hemp oil and Medical Cannabis. Scientific tests have proven that cannabinoids have the ability to significantly inhibit the growth of malignant skin tumors in mice. When applied topically, cannabis does not give a psychoactive effect to the patient.

The use of Cannabis as a remedy has been in play even in ancient civilization. In ancient China, Cannabis, called má (meaning”numbness”) was used as an anaesthetic, and operations were even conducted in its employ. Ancient Egyptian physicians used cannabis to treat sore eyes, and formed Cannabis suppositories to treat hemorrhage.

Many scientists are still skeptical about the touted medical benefits of Marijuana. All the rest of the world can do now is watch and wait for a verdict on the would-be miracle cure, Marijuana.

photo credit: warrantedarrest via photopin cc

Skin affects many around the world and kids are not immune to the threat posed by the disease. Kids like many other things are very much susceptible to the disease just as we all are. The best thing to do with kids is to teach them properly the value and importance of protecting one’s skin early on. Kids can log on to the web page by the Nemour’s foundation where a section on their page Kid’s Health deals with skin and the workings of the said organs. It also teaches them early on how to protect their skin and what to do in emergencies along with many other health topics for kinds.