As the temperatures are soaring, it might be useful to remind Americans of the dangers of skin cancer due to sun damage.
As New York Times columnist reports, this year alone, more than 76,000 people in the country are likely to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of disease, and about 10,000 might die from it.
Being in the business of manufacturing organic skin care products, and protecting skin health, we at Herbally Radiant went over the causes and remedial measures for the potentially deadly skin disorder.
There are three types: squamous cellcarcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and melanoma. Squamous and basal are grouped together into non-melanoma skin cancers, and are by far the most prevalent form of the disease, making up about 98 percent of cases. They are also rarely fatal, making up only about 0.1 percent of skin cancer deaths.
But melanoma poses a much bigger threat. In 2015, there were 73,870 diagnoses and 9,940 deaths in the United States.
In the risk categories are those who have had melanoma, or who have a family history of the disease, and people who have more than 100 moles on their bodies are most likely to develop the disease. White men 65 and older are at higher risk than the rest of the general population. People with light skin are also more prone to developing skin cancer than people of color, though they too can get melanoma.
In medical screening, doctors try to identify potentially troublesome skin lesions: asymmetrical, when one half doesn’t match the other; borders of the lesion that look uneven or ragged; colors that differ from one another; diameter larger than 6 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser; evolving lesions over time.
While there is debate among medical fraternity in general about the annual check-up of skin, Dr. Abel Torres, President of the American Academy of Dermatology says that skin cancer screenings can save lives, and adds: “We know that screenings, which are noninvasive, quick and painless, are the best tool possible to detect skin cancer early when it is most treatable.”
Herbally Radiant would recommend precaution against sun damage by using good protective cream or lotion. It has been marketing successfully an excellent natural formulation: Body Cream (81% organic). Aloe based, and with key ingredients like Avocado Oil, Grapeseed Oil and Shea Butter, together with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide (that make sun protection creams), this Body Cream offers sun protection while offering rich nutrients for healthy appearance of skin. Its Azadirachta indica Oil has amazing antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. (Priced at $ 12.90 for 4 oz jar, it can be ordered online: www.herballyradiant.com)