Cancer has become an epidemic in most nations. Those who get their cancer detected early get timely treatment and live longer lives. If cancer gets caught in its later stages, the doctors can only manage the symptoms. One of the cancers that has become troublesome occurs in the skin. The skin has many layers, and the top layer is known as the epidermis. The epidermis also has fat cells which generate after the old cells fall off. Squamous cell carcinoma is a condition that exists if these fat cells generate abnormally. If you notice changes in your skin, you can visit Chevy Chase squamous cell carcinoma specialist for the best treatment. Read on to learn more about squamous cell carcinoma.
· Protect Yourself From the Sun
Even though the sun has benefits, you should minimize the hours of exposure to the sun. After a positive cancer test, it will become real to you that prolonged exposure to the sun can cost you your health. For instance, if you take a walk when the sun is hottest, you might instead consider taking a walk in the evening. Also, if you are aware that it will be hot, you should wear protective clothing. Normalize covering your body when at the beach and wearing a hat. It would be wise to prioritize your health over getting a summer tan. Every time you walk out of the house, you should apply sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF). Taking care of your skin and shielding it from harmful rays will help you better prevent squamous cell carcinoma.
· Why Indoor Tanning Is Not Advisable
There is a current trend where it is considered beautiful to have a tan. Therefore, the manufacturers have developed tanning beds in numerous beauty parlors. Do not jump on the bandwagon of getting a tan from those machines. Research shows that a good percentage of people who have used the tanning machines at one time suffer from squamous cell carcinoma. The World Health Organization has further labeled the beds as carcinogenic. Therefore, if you have not yet used those tanning beds, you should continue to avoid them.
· Diagnosis and Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
At the onset of the disease, you will observe changes on the part of the skin affected. The affected patch becomes reddish, scaly, and dry. Immediately after seeing the changes, you should see a dermatologist. The dermatologist examines the skin and then collects some cells and tests them. If the biopsy results show you have squamous cell carcinoma, the doctor will proceed with the treatment. Today, Moh surgery ensures only the cancerous cells get removed to avoid significant scarring. After the surgery, you will undergo further tests to ensure you have no cancerous cells.
The harmful ultraviolet rays have a connection with different types of skin cancer. The more exposed to these harmful rays, the higher the risk of getting skin cancer. However, Ali Hendi MD is a skin specialist who offers the best diagnosis and treatment for different skin cancers.