Sunburned people have an increased risk of melanoma. Three ways to prevent melanoma

Melanoma is a deadly skin cancer that is more common in people with fair skin or freckles. The incidence rate is much higher in Caucasians than in blacks and Asians. In recent years, its incidence has increased faster than any other cancer, doubling every 10 or 20 years. There is no doubt that the root cause of melanoma is that more people are exposing more skin to the sun more often since the 1950s.

Sunburn may increase risk of melanoma

If you get sunburned frequently, especially as a child, you are at increased risk of melanoma. People with red hair and birthmarks are at greater risk.

Wearing UV-proof clothing and minimizing direct sun exposure should be better than using sunscreen. However, this method is not yet accepted by many people. Due to various social reasons, such as people believe that bronze skin is healthier and sunbathing is relaxing, sunscreen is still the main means of sun protection. Other studies have shown that the incidence of malignant melanoma in men is higher than that in women because men tend to think that sunscreen is not masculine.

If we wrap ourselves tightly from head to toe with layers of cloth like the women in some island countries, leaving only a narrow gap around the eyes, it will increase the sun protection effect when we are active under the scorching sun.

Among the types of melanoma, malignant melanoma is the most serious in the later stages. Most people do not know how to take preventive measures against malignant melanoma.

Tips: Three ways to prevent melanoma

1. For pigmented nevi that are easily rubbed, biopsies should be taken for pathological examination. All of them should be removed as soon as possible to prevent the occurrence of malignant melanoma. For example, if a child has a large hairy nevus on the waist, the main part of the nevus can be removed as much as possible in the middle before it becomes malignant, and the two sides can be sutured. After the surrounding skin of the melanoma patient is loosened, the remaining part can be removed until all the nevi are removed. Each specimen removed must be sent for pathological examination. If there is malignant transformation, it should be completely removed and skin grafting should be performed. This is what needs to be paid attention to in the prevention of malignant melanoma.

2. To prevent malignant melanoma, it is not advisable to stimulate moles with corrosive drugs or complete freezing, because moles of melanoma patients can often become malignant due to traumatic stimulation.

3. To prevent malignant melanoma, you need to pay attention to information about the malignant transformation of moles. Melanoma patients should be alert to the following information: the mole becomes larger, the pigment becomes darker or lighter; the mole spreads radially to the surrounding area; the mole is painful or uncomfortable for no reason, and there is a small amount of exudate on the surface; the lymph nodes in the mole area are swollen, and a faint blue-black color can be seen. This is also a preventive measure for malignant melanoma.