Skin cancer in its deadliest form, melanoma, is on the rise and this relates to children of all ages.

1. Babies: Cases of pediatric melanoma have increased
100% in the last 20 years! (Michigan State Medical
Society)

Almost everytime I'm outdoors, I see babies or small
children in their strollers with their faces and heads
unprotected from the sun. And while I do notice more
small children than ever with hats on their heads, there
seem to be triple that amount without.

All it takes is a little awareness to keep a hat on and to
make sure the back of the stroller is to the sun. When
80% of the sun's damaging UV rays happens in the first
18 years of life, parents can give the gift of life twice ...
once giving birth, and the second protecting their skin.

2. Teens: 2.3 million teenagers (part of 30 million
Americans) use tanning beds. Ultraviolet rays are the
primary factor in developing skin cancer and are 15 times
greater in a tanning booth than outdoors. Up until now,
there have been very few warnings about health risks in
tanning salons.

Finally, legislators are trying to change that. 25 states
across the country want to restrict youth access to
indoor tanning facilities. In addition, if passed, this
legislation would require parental consent for anyone
under 18, along with the listing of potential health
consequences in these salons, and licensing by the
state.

This is a potentially life-saving public issue and any
help parents can give both at home with their children
and in their support of their representatives can only
help save lives.

3. Women ages 20-29: They're adults but they're still
somebody's children. Melanoma is now the second most
common cancer in this age group.

While it is best to get kids started early on the
habit of using sun protection, better late than never.
you know how to talk to your children best, but if
you see a tan on your daughter, you might ask how
she came to it...beach? tanning salon? Or, fake
tanning lotion which of course would be Choice No. 1
other than, perhaps, no tan at all.

4. African-American or Asian children: The risk for
melanoma isn't as high as with Caucasian children,
but it can be more deadly because a lesion or
irregular mole can't be seen as easily.

Talking with them at all ages about sun protection
and teaching them what to look for is and examining
them regularly is vital.

5. The perfect tan. For years, the perfect tan was looked
at as the way to look healthy, attractive, thinner (believe it
or not), and possibly even rich (if you have time to lounge
in the sun, you really must be well off). And the warmth
of the sun feels good. There's no doubting that.

The perfect tan is still sought today. Lines form around
some of the more popular tanning salons, grown women
included.

But now we have information we didn't have.
Irrefutable information. It's hard to ignore it
and worse, later on, if we're one of the unlucky
ones, what do we say to ourselves - and our
families? It's just a little extra effort for potentially
a longer and healthier life. Is the perfect tan worth
losing all that?

Despite the medical evidence available on skin cancer, our society insists on tanning beds and sunbathing without using the proper protection, as we can find many youth and teenagers spending long times in the harmful and burning sun rays that what makes them the suffer a lot from Skin Cancer. But the good news is that Skin Cancer is considered the easiest form of cancer and you can overcome it by spotting it in time.

There are two forms of Skin Cancer, melanomas and non-melanomas. Melanomas usually account for only four percent of diagnosed skin cancers, and it occurs in the epidermis, the skin's outer layer, usually appearing as a dark mole with uneven edges but they are considered to be the most deadly. Non-melanomas, on the other hand, are comprised of two different cell types, basal cells and squamous cells. Both of these cells are caused from sun exposure.

Skin cancer symptoms vary from individual to individual as to which chemical, or substance causes allergic reactions. The tumor in the epidermis, caused by skin cancer, is always clearly visible, making diagnosis slightly easier than in other cases of cancer. Skin Cancer patient may encounter Rough and scaly patches on the skin, A sore or spot that bleeds or become crusty, a small lump that is shiny, waxy, pale in color, and smooth in texture.

Skin protection is very important and easy; off course there is no excuse not to prevent it. You have to protect every member in your family even young babies, try to find shady areas when you take them outside to play and be sure they have the proper protection on.

Children and people with fair skin need to be using a higher protection factor than other people Skin protection doesn't mean to avoid sun forever, but you have to be reasonable and be careful while dealing with the sun. Sensitive areas like lips, nose, palms, and the back of your hand should be sufficiently protected while exposure to sun.

When out in the sun do not forget to protect your face. Applying lotion to the ears, nose and neck will help to protect those sensitive areas from the sun.

Sunscreen is recommended as a form of protection against the sun. Of course, your self-examinations should be in addition to an annual doctors exam; doctors trained eyes often spot skin cancer even quicker than you do. Surgery is the most common form of treatment and it is usually done as an outpatient procedure.

From time to time examine your head and face using one or two mirrors. Move your hair to examine your scalp. Have a look at your hands, including your nails. Check your elbows, arms and underarms. Look closely on your neck and chest.

Finally, if you notice or encounter any changes in your skin such as moles, lesions or sores, which do not heal, it is always better to consult your doctor immediately. If caught early, most skin cancer can be cured.

Here are nine more things you may not know about melanoma:

• The skin disease will affect about 54,500 persons in the United States of America, resulting in more than 8,500 deaths.

• It can affect adults of all ages, even young individuals (from mid-teens).

• The individuals most likely to develop melanoma are those with fair complexions, red or blond hair, blue eyes, and freckles and who tan poorly and sunburn easily. Strong family history of melanoma is also a risk factor. Melanoma hardly ever occurs in Africans and Afro-Americans because they never sunburn.

• Always have a high index of suspicion for changing moles, especially if the edge is irregular and the color/pigmentation changes in any mole.

• The Paradox: 'Sun exposure is associated with increased survival from melanoma'. Why? Because one of sun's best effects is to increase Vitamin D, which has anti-cancer effects.

• It may spread via the lymphatic vessels or bloodstream. Once widespread disease to lungs, liver, bone and brain is established, the chance of a cure is low.

• The back is the most common site for melanoma in men. In women, the back and the lower leg (from knee to ankle) are frequent sites.

• Once diagnosed with melanoma, symptoms such as weight loss, malaise, headaches, visual difficulty, or bone pain may mean that the disease has spread to other parts of the body.

• It may occur even in normal skins. You have to see your doctor immediately if a mole or moles become bigger than 6 millimeters, starts bleeding or itching, changes color or the border becomes irregular. Any of these changes may mean that the mole/moles have become malignant melanoma(s).

There is nothing better than being outside on a nice sunny day. However, with the sun comes the possibility of getting some form of skin cancer but could grape seed extract help prevent that? The research has been done and the purpose of this article is to see if it could help prevent skin cancer!

Did you know that over exposure to the harmful rays the sun puts out lead to at least one million new cases of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers each year. Researchers wanted to know if taking something as simple as this healthy supplement could help lower the number of these cases. To help answer this question the researchers turned to mice.

The researchers took a number of mice and exposed them to ultraviolet-light. They then divided the mice up into two groups. One group was given the chemicals found in grape seed extract and the other group was not. The scientist found that the group of mice given the extract developed a significant lesser number of tumors than those mice that were not given it. So why does this work?

The chemicals found in grape seed extract have a high level of antioxidants. These antioxidants help combat the oxidative stress that UV light induces. Oxidative stress has been shown to lead to skin cancer and since the chemicals in the extract seem to counter that, grape seed extract could prevent skin cancer. It is important to talk about the side effects of it as well.

While the research is still being conducted, most people who have taken the report no side effects at all. Other people have noticed mild side effects such as minor stomach aches or a little cough. The good news is that research is being done everyday and it most of it looks very positive.

The chemicals found in this supplement just could help prevent skin cancer and the research is there to back it up. There are also studies that show grape seed extract can help prevent and fight many other health conditions as well. These range from preventing heart disease and even preventing cancer. We are also seeing grapes being used as the backbone of many skin-care products. Could grape seed extract, taken in a pill form, have the same effect on your skin? It looks that is could be another benefit as well! Stay tuned...there is still more research to come!

Freckles, once considered a sweet addition to a child's face, are now considered by sun-savvy Australians as the result of too much sun.

While many parents enforce the slip, slop, slap regime on their children, many of the parents themselves were not so lucky, and as a result of many summers in the Australian sun, commonly have severe skin pigmentation as a result.

Skin Pigmentation

According to the Cancer Council, more Australians still die from skin cancer each year than any other country. A lot of it has to do with the nature of skin itself.

The skin protects the body from outside dangers, including the sun and its powerful UV rays. It is made up of Squamous cells, which are the outer-most cells, constantly being rubbed off and replaced, Basal cells, which help to produce more Squamous cells, and Melanocytes. This third and deepest layer produces dark pigments which help to protect the skin.

Unfortunately for many Australians, their skin doesn't produce enough melanin to protect their skin. Over time, some melanocytes may over produce melanin, resulting in irregular skin pigmentation. This can include freckles and moles, some of which can also lead to skin cancer.

Treating skin pigmentation

Laser therapy for skin pigmentation is not only used for aesthetic reasons. It has become an effective and popular way also to remove skin cancers. Using a beam of light, it destroys the cancer cells within the skin. A biopsy before the therapy is important to determine if the cancer has been contained only within the skin, and has not spread to other parts of the body.

Other skin pigmentation, such as birthmarks, can also be treated by laser therapy. For red birthmarks, commonly known as 'port wine' birthmarks, lasers can be especially effective, and can be used at any age. A few treatments will probably be need, though.

Laser resurfacing is particularly good for freckles. Usually performed by a dermatologist, the area is numbed first and then treated. Results vary depending on how many freckles are on the face and how dark they are. The skin will commonly take 1-2 weeks to heal, so treatments are usually spread to allow for this healing time.

Different people have varying pain thresholds, so laser resurfacing is more painful for some people than others. Some equate it to a runner band flicking on the skin. Some more information on laser resurfacing can be found at the Australian School of Dermatologists (http://www.dermcoll.asn.au/public/a-z_of_skin-chemical_peels_etc.asp).

Costs vary according to the different practitioners, but keep in mind that usually two or more treatments are required. Of course, there are other ways to get rid of freckles in particular. Regularly applying lemon juice is one effective way of naturally bleaching the skin. Also, a simple mask of cucumber, lemon juice, apricots or strawberries can work over time.

A nice addition to a daily face care routine is an equal parts mixture of parley, lemon, orange and red currant juices. Use it before applying your daily face cream. Prevention is always better than a cure, so to make sure no new freckles appear, always wear a hat and sun screen with a minimum SPF of 15+.

Of all of the cancers that are reported each year in the U.S., Skin cancer is found to be the most prevalent. In fact, some experts have estimated that up to half of the entire population of the U.S. that reaches the age of fifty will contract it at some point in their life and this is one of the biggest reasons why awareness is so important. Each year there are over one million new skin cancer cases reported in the U.S. and with an aging population this figure is only expected to increase.

There are three main types of skin cancer that are most often found and they are all treatable but as in all other cancers early detection is they key to surviving. The least severe and most easily treated is " Basal Cell Carcinoma" which is a slow growing cancer that begins on the skins surface. The form of skin cancer with the next higher level of severity is called "Squamous Cell Carcinoma" and it too is highly treatable if detected in its early stages.

"Melanoma" is the most severe and difficult to treat form of skin cancer, because it is faster growing and effects the deeper skin layers. There are several forms of treatment for skin cancer and the treatment that is employed is usualy determined by the severity and location of the cancer. Fully one fourth of all skin cancers are treated by the surgical technique known as "Micrographic surgery" or Mohs as it is commonly referred to.

This surgical technique offers the benefit of sacrificing the least amount of healthy tissue, while at the same time offering the highest success rate. This all translates into faster recovery with minimal scarring. This surgery is performed under local anesthesia, meaning that the patient is awake, yet feels no pain. The skin is marked out in a grid-work that is used to guide the surgeon during the process that removes the cancerous tissue in increments, until its outer edge are breached and all of the cancer is removed.

Sun exposure is universally cited as the primary cause of skin cancers because ultraviolet rays can damage DNA cells. Most cancerous lesions tend to be found on areas of the body that have been exposed to sunlight like the face, nose, lips, neck, arms, legs and chest. If detected and treated early, skin cancer has a cure rate of over ninety percent. The most important thing to know about skin cancer is that although fair skinned people who sunburn easily are more prone to developing lesions, anyone can be at risk. One twenty-minute annual visit to your Dermatologist for a full body check from the top of your scalp to between your toes may actually save your life.

If you have any doubts about whether it can happen to you, just ask Brenda, 52, a teacher. She was diagnosed with a melanoma two years ago during a routine glycolic peel treatment. "My doctor saw something on my shoulder which he didn't like the look of. When he suggested that we do a biopsy, I just thought he was being extra cautious because my daughter's wedding was a month away," says Brenda. A few days later, she got the bad news. "I was devastated," she says now, "it was the last thing I expected." Brenda was one of the lucky ones. Her melanoma was small, in its early stages and treatable. A lifetime of summers at the beach club covered in tanning gel with a SPF of 6 finally caught up with her.

The three major types of skin cancer have names that have become all too familiar. 'Basal Cell Carcinoma', the most common form, usually looks like raised, translucent lumps or growths. 'Squamous Cell Carcinoma' is characterized by crusty or scaly reddish patches, which can spread to other areas of the body. 'Malignant Melanoma' is the least common but also the most deadly form of skin cancer. It can look like a dark mole or blemish and ranges from brownish or black, and can spread through the bloodstream and the lymphatic system. Without treatment, any of these skin cancers can cause serious damage and even death. 'Actinic Keratoses' or 'Solar Keratoses,' are dry, crusty, flaky, often brown or pink, rough patches appearing on the face, hands, lips or elsewhere. These lesions signal that the sun has damaged the skin, and are considered a precursor to skin cancer that one in six people will develop in their lifetime. Although you may think of 'AK's' as a sign of old age, they can show up even in young people. If left untreated, AK's can develop into any form of skin cancer.

Dermatologists use sight and touch to make a diagnosis. If they spot a lesion that looks and feels suspicious, a skin biopsy may be indicated to rule out malignancy. A biopsy is done by removing a small piece of skin large enough to contain hair follicles and sweat glands for microscopic analysis by a Dermatopathologist. There are four different basic types of skin biopsy from the least invasive, in which the smallest segment of skin is removed, to the most extensive. The Punch biopsy removes a portion of a lesion or an entire small lesion, while a Shave biopsy involves 'shaving' off the part of the lesion that protrudes above the surface of the skin with a surgical blade. An Excisional biopsy 'excises' or removes the lesion in its entirety, and the Wedge or Incisional biopsy, is done by making a small incision on the skin's surface that goes deep down to the 'subcutaneous' tissue in a 'wedge-like' shape.

Early detection offers more effective options for treatment and cure. The biopsy is usually the first step to determine the best form of treatment depending on the size, location, and type of skin cancer. Cancerous growths can be surgically removed and excised, scraped away with a sharp instrument, and treated with liquid nitrogen to freeze the tissue. Laser technology can also be used to vaporize cancerous tissue in the layers of the skin and reduce pre-cancerous lesions like actinic keratoses.

The technique known as Mohs' micrographic surgery is now used to treat more than one quarter of all skin cancers, including the melanoma on Brenda's shoulder. Mohs surgery offers patients the highest cure rate and sacrifices the least amount of surrounding healthy tissue. This extremely accurate technique is performed under local anesthesia, and allows the surgeon the advantage of removing all of the cancerous tissue while creating the least amount of damage. The tissue is flattened, frozen and divided into horizontal sections to check for the presence of tumor. Repeated thin slices or layers of diseased tissue are taken until the margins of the lesion are clear and all the cancer has been safely removed. For more information on all forms of skin cancer and treatment options, visit www.asds.net.

If you spend any time in the sun, there are no more excuses for not protecting yourself from the sun's harmful rays by using a full spectrum sunblock containing Parsol 1789 or Titanium Dioxide which block UVA and UVB rays and SPF 30. If you have a lot of moles, a fair complexion or family history of skin cancer, you should also be doing monthly self-exams at home. Use a full-length mirror to check your entire body, and don't forget the soles of the feet, back and back of legs. Try a handheld mirror to look into less conspicuous places, or ask a partner, parent or child to help you.

Brenda points to the thin, barely visible scar on her left shoulder as a faint reminder of the melanoma that once appeared there. "Mohs surgery allowed me to dance at my youngest daughter's wedding. If my doctor hadn't been paying attention, I might not be able to say that today," she says.

As the population ages, more people, especially those with light complexions, are being diagnosed with and treated for skin cancer. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell, squamous cell and melanoma. The most favorable kind is basal cell and melanoma is the most serious form.

Most skin cancers are caused by longstanding sun exposure. Also, as the ozone layer becomes more depleted, the incidence of skin cancer is anticipated to rise. Therefore, it makes sense to reduce sun exposure to minimize a person's risk of developing skin cancer.

Traditional approaches are applying a thick coating of sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to sun exposed areas of the skin, especially those of the face, ears, neck, back of the arms, and hands. It should be noted that sunscreens absorb UV light, thus preventing the radiation from penetrating the skin. Also, avoiding sun exposure when the sun's rays are most intense, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and wearing protective, opaque clothing, such as long sleeved shirts, long pants, sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat, are helpful measures.

On October 22, 2007, a publication for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported research that demonstrated a sun protective effect from extracts of broccoli. stems. The chemical component, called sulforaphane (pronounced sull FOR uh fane) is not a sunscreen. Instead, it boosts the protective systems within cells to counteract the damage caused by UV rays. This effect results in less redness and inflammation of sun exposed skin, and ultimately decreases the risk of skin cancer.

Scientific Data

The protective effect of sulforaphane was identified fifteen years ago, when a scientist discovered that is prevented tumor development in a number of animals that were exposed to cancer causing agents. The new study examined the effects of broccoli sprout application to small areas of the skin of six human volunteers as well as mice. Volunteers then were exposed to UV radiation, either at the site of the application of the broccoli extract or on an untreated area of the skin.
The results were a 37% reduction in redness and inflammation in the treated areas of the skin. Also, the researcher noted that it took many hours or even days for the protective measures to ensue. However, the results lasted for days after the application was washed off the skin.

Future Directions

Due to the small number of human subjects in this study, the validity of the data needs to be confirmed by testing it on a large scale. If the data are borne out, it is possible that broccoli extract will be added to creams that one can apply to the skin, either before or after sun exposure.

However, this will not replace the traditional skin cancer risk reduction methods described earlier. Also, people should examine their skin everywhere on their bodies at least once per month. Those who find a suspicious mole should have it evaluated by their primary care physician or dermatologist. The rate of a future skin cancer for someone who has been diagnosed with one skin cancer is nearly 50%. Thus, such people should undergo annual physician skin exams.
The good news is that a simple, safe product extracted from broccoli may indeed be useful in preventing skin cancer, an all too common medical condition.

The weather may be sunny but the statistics are not. Every year, a million new skin cancer cases are diagnosed in the United States alone. The most serious form, melanoma, will be seen in almost 60,000 people this year and result in over 8,000 deaths, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Experts say the disease is increasing yearly mainly because of prolonged exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays and the thinning of the ozone layer. The tragedy of it all is that skin cancer is preventable.

To avoid this problem, it pays to be sun wise. The first step in fighting skin cancer is to learn about the disease so you can protect yourself from the sun's deadly rays . To make this easy for you, here are some skin cancer myths you should be aware of courtesy of Dermaxin, a safe and natural alternative to expensive and risky cosmetic injections. Regular use of Dermaxin will help reduce fine lines and wrinkles caused by aging and the sun's harmful rays.

Skin cancer is inherited. In some cases, it is but a healthy family history doesn't mean you won't get the disease later. It all depends on how much time you spend under the sun. Excessive sun exposure causes precancerous changes in the skin and is a major factor in the development of malignant melanoma. High-risk groups include farmers, laborers, sailors, campers, athletes, soldiers, students undergoing military training, beach lovers, and picnickers.

Only sunbathers should worry about skin cancer. False. No matter where you are or what you're doing, you can get skin cancer with constant sun exposure, especially if you go out between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the sun's rays are strongest. In fact, you may get more UV exposure in going to the office and other daily routines than spending a weekend at the beach.

A good tan is a sign of health. Wrong. A golden brown tan once meant that a person had plenty of leisure time, exercise, and fresh air. But that's not the case nowadays. Tanning is the skin's response to sun damage. When the sun's rays penetrate the skin, pigment-producing cells called melanocytes produce melanin to protect the skin and block UV light. However, this defense mechanism isn't enough to protect the skin from burning. Over time, repeated tanning causes premature aging, wrinkles, and increases your risk of skin cancer.

Only fair-skinned individuals will get skin cancer. Wrong again. While a fair complexion puts you at risk for skin cancer because it burns easily, those with dark or brown skin will also develop the disease with prolonged sun exposure.

"If you're Irish, Welsh, Scottish, or English descent, you probably have the whitest and most vulnerable type of skin. Other Europeans and Asians are at risk too. Individuals with 'olive' or brown skin carry a lower risk. Dark-skinned blacks are the least vulnerable to sun burning and sun-induced cancers but they're not immune. Even the darkest skin can burn and, decades later, develop skin cancer. Prevention is the best course," according to the editors of Consumer Guide's "Medical Book of Health Hints & Tips."

You can't get sunburned on a cloudy day. False. Up to 80 percent of the sun's rays can penetrate clouds, mist and fog. Fresh snow reflects back 85 percent while white sand can intensify it by 18 percent which is bad news for beach lovers. Staying in the water is not safe either since 5 percent of the sun's rays are reflected back on you and sunlight can penetrate up to 3 feet under water! If you believe all that will end by the time you drive home, think again. A concrete sidewalk reflects back 12 percent of the sun's rays while an asphalt road reflects about 8 percent.