The reason that causes this type of cancer is not entirely known. Yes, we have studied some factors that influence their occurrence.
Environmental factors
Excessive exposure to the sun influences the production of these cancers. People who work outdoors, such as farmers and sailors, have a higher incidence. Often occur on exposed skin, often in head and neck.
Although sunlight helps to synthesize vitamins A and D, overexposure, produce or burns, increases the risk of developing skin cancer, including malignant melanoma.
There is a correlation between risk of melanoma and latitude. It also influences the time period during which a person has lived in Ecuador-latitude countries, which means excessive sun exposure maintained for a period of life.
Not only influences but prolonged exposure to direct sunlight exposure, on time, on holiday for example, is a risk factor for melanoma.
Melanomas differ from malignant tumors non-melanoma skin about sex, age and body location. The majority of cutaneous malignant melanomas occur in areas not receiving the accumulated UV dose increased.
Although not known exactly what the most dangerous pattern of sun exposure, some studies support the hypothesis that intense, intermittent exposure to ultraviolet radiation of skin is normally protected is responsible for the formation of melanoma.
Age also appears to influence and burns from the sun before age 15 increases melanoma risk doubles.
Physical Characteristics
The white people of Scottish, English or Irish with blond or red hair, blue eyes and abundant freckles are especially susceptible.
Melanoma is very rare in the population being predominantly black or Oriental, when it occurs, little pigmented areas such as palms and plants and their prognosis is worse.
The sensitivity of skin to sun tanning and the difficulty increases the risk of melanoma.
The skin reaction to sunlight is associated with factors such as skin pigmentation, the number of freckles in childhood or adulthood and the number of nevi (moles-like formations, which are benign melanocytic tumors), accounting for all factors risk for cutaneous malignant melanoma.
The highest incidence of nevi in Caucasians leads to the notion that ultraviolet radiation plays an important role in the development of nevi. It has been proven the existence of an increased number of nevi in areas of sun-exposed skin than in protected areas, associating its increase with a greater propensity to burn than tan, the number of sunburns, the tendency to freckles and style of life associated with increased sun exposure.
A person with sensitive skin to the sun, more than 150 melanocytic nevi and dysplastic nevi any (with similar microscopic appearance of malignant melanoma cells), might have 50 times the risk of melanoma than someone without these characteristics.
Genetic factors
The nevoid basal cell epithelioma syndrome is an inherited disorder in which patients develop numerous basal cell carcinoma from the second decade of life and that ultimately affect any area of the skin.
Xeroderma pigmentosum is an inherited disorder that is caused by an alteration in DNA repair, is also associated with the occurrence of multiple cutaneous carcinomas.
In cutaneous malignant melanoma has been described a familial predisposition. The estimated risk is 70% present in patients with neurocutaneous melanosis and different types of xeroderma pigmentosum, from 1% in children of patients with non-familial melanoma alone and 6% in families with dysplastic nevus syndrome and history of two or more malignant melanomas.
Immunosuppression
Those who have been dealt with drugs that suppress their immune systems, are more likely to develop melanoma.
Overexposure to lamps and booths
Tanning lamps and booths are a source of ultraviolet radiation. Excessive exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancer.
Age
About half the number of cases of melanoma occur in people over 50 years.
Other factors
Exposure to carcinogens, trauma or scarring, radiation injuries and chronic viral infections are among the factors predisposing to skin cancer.
Tags: Environmental factors of skin cancer, genetic factors of skin cancer, risk factors of skin cancer, Skin Cancer, skin cancer factors
