Money Today Reporter Jeong Sim-gyo | 2023.09.15 07:00
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As the particularly hot summer passes, UV protection is something that is easy to neglect in the fall. However, in Korea, fall is the season with the second highest UV index after summer. In particular, the fall season is not as hot as the summer, so it is easy to spend a lot of time outdoors, so the total amount of exposure to ultraviolet rays may be higher than in the summer.
Skin cancer is a cancer that threatens people who engage in a lot of outdoor activities. This is because when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays outdoors, skin cells naturally become malignant. This is why elderly people who are exposed to ultraviolet rays for long periods of time are at high risk of skin cancer.
In Korea, skin cancer is low, about 2% of all cancers, but the incidence rate has increased very sharply over the past 10 years. Additionally, skin cancer is not something to be taken lightly just because it has a low incidence since it often appears in facial areas that are important for cosmetic purposes. Professor Park Hyang-jun of the Department of Dermatology at Gachon University Gil Hospital said, “Skin cancer mainly occurs in people in their 60s or older. Overall, it is slightly more common in men who engage in a lot of outdoor activities, but the incidence rate is higher in women among the very elderly.” He added, “The most effective way to prevent skin cancer is to use sunscreen. “It’s about using it correctly,” he said.
If a mole suddenly appears on your nose or the mole gradually grows larger, it is safe to see a dermatologist and receive an accurate diagnosis./Photo = Getty Image Bank
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Basal cell carcinoma is more common in the nose, and melanoma is more common in the hands and feet.
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Skin cancer occurs when ‘small lumps’ on the surface of the skin (‘papules’ where the skin rises, ‘nodules’ where the lesion is larger and deeper than the papule) gradually grow and become depressed in the middle, forming an ulcer. At this time, the surface of the ulcer is covered with a crust made of dirty exudate and bleeds easily when touched. Skin cancer is largely divided into basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, and the form varies depending on the type of cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is often mistaken for a mole. This is because it often occurs on the nose area of the face and is small in size and shows black pigment.
Squamous cell carcinoma is larger than basal cell carcinoma, and the surrounding tissue is slightly hard and congested. The site of occurrence is all parts of the body, including exposed areas of the face, back of the hands, and lip mucosa.
Melanoma lesions are entirely black and vary in size. In Korea, it occurs most commonly on the hands, soles, hands, and toes, and sometimes occurs under the nails (nails). If irregular black spots appear in this area or black lines appear on the nails, melanoma may be suspected and you should see a specialist.
Actinic keratosis, which is not cancer but can develop into skin cancer in the future, literally occurs in areas that have been exposed to sunlight for a long period of time. It is characteristically red in color and rough to the touch due to dry dead skin cells on the surface. One or more patches appear on exposed areas such as the face, lower lip, ears, arms, and back of the hands. If left for a long time, it progresses into squamous cell carcinoma.
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If discovered and treated early, the cure rate is high.
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Skin cancer has a better prognosis than other cancers. If discovered early, the cure rate is high and good cosmetic results can be achieved. Treatment of skin cancer can be broadly divided into ‘surgical treatment’ and ‘non-surgical treatment’. Professor Park Hyang-jun said, “The general treatments for cancer, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, are all possible. However, since the growth is limited to a local area and the metastasis rate is low and does not respond well to anticancer drugs, surgical treatment, that is, surgical resection, is usually used.” “It is universally used,” he said.
Surgical methods vary slightly depending on the type of skin cancer, but unlike surgery for cancer of other organs, most are performed under local anesthesia. Skin cancer is a safe surgery with relatively few surgical complications, such as bleeding or infection, and can be performed as an outpatient surgery, so there is no need for long-term hospitalization. The results of surgery may vary depending on several factors, including the type of skin cancer, whether it has metastasized, and the surgical method.
Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma have a high cure rate (over 90%) with simple resection. Malignant tumors that are prone to metastasis or local recurrence, such as melanoma, require complex therapy that combines various treatments in addition to surgery.
Non-surgical treatment can be considered when the skin cancer is small and appears only superficially, or, conversely, when the skin cancer is very large or metastatic and surgical treatment is not suitable. This can be divided into surgical treatment and drug treatment such as electrotherapy, cryotherapy, laser treatment, dermabrasion, and radiotherapy. The drugs used include topical drugs applied or injected into the lesion, and systemic drugs such as retinoids, chemotherapy agents, and targeted therapies. Topical drugs are used for local lesions or intraepithelial lesions, and systemic drugs are used for metastatic or systemic lesions.
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Sunscreen should be applied 20 minutes before going out and reapplied every 2 to 3 hours.
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Skin cancer can be prevented by using sunscreen in the right way. The amount to be applied is 2 mg per unit surface area (㎠), which is about the size of a pea, and about 30 ml is needed to apply sufficiently to exposed areas. Apply 20 minutes before going out and reapply every 2 to 3 hours to enjoy the UV protection effect.
Among the ‘blocking factors’ displayed on the surface of sunscreen and other UV-blocking products, SPF refers to the ability to block UV-B rays and PA refers to the ability to block UV-A rays. SPF 20 and PA++ are recommended for everyday use, and SPF 50 and above and PA+++ are recommended outdoors. However, for infants and toddlers under 6 months of age, it is better to block UV rays with clothing rather than with a sunscreen, and for older children, use with adults.
It is difficult to completely avoid ultraviolet rays, so we must be careful even in our daily lives. Avoid going out between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when UV rays are high. Other things to observe are △activating in the shade, △wearing a hat, long-sleeved clothing, and sunglasses, △wearing clothes with UV protection, △using UV-blocking glass rather than regular glass, and △applying sunscreen even indoors or on cloudy days. In addition, as preventive measures, you should practice safe sex to reduce infection and spread of the genital wart virus, and practice abstinence from drinking and smoking to reduce the occurrence of skin cancer of the mouth and lips. Oral administration of retinoids, a common term for vitamin A, can reduce the incidence of skin cancer in organ transplant patients. However, there are side effects and contraindications, so you must take it according to your doctor’s instructions.
[저작권자 @머니투데이, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]
2023-09-14 22:00:00
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