Take care of your skin

Skin cancers and melanomas in the last ten years have registered an increase of about 30% in the world. Prevention and early diagnosis are tools of fundamental importance. Melanoma is the most widespread malignant skin tumor according to the data of the Onlus Melanoma Foundation: in our country every year approximately causes the death of 1,500 patients, out of about 7,000 affected. Familiarity is important, even if this tumor is not hereditary, moreover, subjects with very light skin, with the presence of numerous nevi even of large size and irregular shape, are more at risk. If surgical removal occurs at an early stage, when the lesion is still superficial and circumscribed, the possibility of healing is ion reach 95%. It is important to contact a specialist immediately if the appearance of a nevus changes, if you have the impression that it is growing in size, changing shape or color, or if it causes discomfort. A simple outpatient examination with a dermatoscope can in many cases be life-saving. Excessive exposure to UV radiation and sun burns that alter cellular DNA expose us to a high risk of skin cancers, but they are not the only factor in the incidence of this type of cancer. “The Skin Cancer Foundation” provides common sense rules, such as avoiding exposure in the hours when solar radiation is most intense, protect yourself with clothes and hats and with high quality sunscreens, be careful if you take photosensitizing drugs. The sun should not be demonized, however, because it is essential to stimulate the synthesis of vitamin D in our body, however, a lot of attention must be paid to avoid putting our health at risk.