“Skin Cancer Risks in Jakarta: Understanding UVA and UVB Exposure”

Jakarta –

Recently, the weather during the day in Jakarta has been hot, different from the usual days. In fact, a number of areas experienced high temperatures, one of which was Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, where the temperature reached 37.2 degrees Celsius. This certainly highlights the health of skin that is exposed to excess UV light.

Presented by dr. Fitria Amalia Umar, SpKK, MKes as a Skin and Gender Specialist, that exposure to sunlight is divided into two parts, namely excess UVA and UVB which can cause skin cancer.

“For skin cancer, the main factor is sun exposure. Where sun exposure is divided into UVA and UVB which can cause skin cancer. In the past it was said that UVB is the most dangerous for cancer, but UVA can also cause cancer, although with a different mechanism. If there is accumulation and we are continuously exposed to the sun for a long time without protection, it can increase the risk of skin cancer,” he said in the e-Life program on Friday (05/05/2023)

There are three types of skin cancer, namely Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Malignant Melanoma. Disclosed by dr. Amel, as she is called, that Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma are types of cancer with a higher cure rate than Malignant Melanoma, a type of cancer that resembles a mole.

“Usually in layman’s terms it is rather difficult to distinguish (from moles) unless it is in the final phase. But for the initial phase, melanoma is like a mole in general. There is a change in color, which was previously black so there is a brown color and even a yellow color, the main thing is unusual than before,” he explained.

“We can also see from the asymmetry. For example, the previous shape was round, how come it is now more jagged, bleeds easily when rubbed, then the edges are no longer smooth as if there has been spread to the sides, that is also one of the risks there is a possibility of malignancy. But all of this still needs to be examined in detail by a dermatologist,” he concluded.

(mjt/mjt)