In recent years has achieved the number of new cases of melanoma, a disease in which malignant or cancerous cells develop in melanocytes, cells that produce skin pigment called melanin.
Melanoma is one of the most common types of skin cancer. and compared to others, they are more likely to invade nearby tissues or to spread to other parts of the body.
Specialized studies and mortality rates
Numerous studies around the world carried out by Cancer Research UK, present relevant results in relation to melanoma.
The first investigation concerns melanoma death rates, which have tripled over the past 4 decades, with higher incidence in men than in women. Thus, the increase since 1973 was markedly higher in men than in women, with 219% compared to 76%, equivalent to 1,400 men and 980 women per year.
In this sense, after adjusting for age differences, it will be extended that men are 69% more likely to die from melanoma than women. However, emphasizing the difference between the sexes, mortality from this type of skin cancer was 9% for women during the last decade, but it persists without changes in the case of men.
On the other hand, travel habits have changed substantially since 1973, the reference point of the data, and it is likely that this has contributed to the increase. Holidays and “getaways”, where we are normally more exposed to the sun, have become more common. In turn, the offer of low-cost flights has been suspected, which implies that destinations where the sun may be stronger are now more within reach, and even several times a year.
According to Cancer Research UK, the diagnosis of melanoma in men during the late stages of the disease may be due to the fact that they are more likely to have skin cancer located on the torso. This occurs since they are generally the ones who remove their memory when it is hot and in those parts of the body the changes in the skin can go unnoticed and make it difficult to detect, until it is too late.
Another study to mention links to a survey conducted jointly by Cancer Research UK and a cosmetics company, which found that less than 25% of men always use sunscreen. However, 84% of them know the risks of suffering from skin cancer from sunburn.
Reasons given for not using sunscreen include 25% of men didn’t think sunlight was strong enough, while another 23% said they “didn’t really think about it.”
Finally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer announced that approximately 325,000 new melanomas were diagnosed worldwide in 2020.
In summary, the data indicate that if current trends continuethe incidence of new cases is predicted to increase by approximately 50%, and that of deaths from melanoma by 70% for the year 2040.
Prevention and awareness
The skin is our largest organ, and like the rest of what makes up our body, it needs proper care.
Normally you hear two types of rays, UVB and UVA and when buying a sunscreen we must take both into account. First order, UVB rays produce faster changes and generate redness in our skin, while UVA rays do not produce color changes at the moment; however, in the long term it generates spots, flaccidity or skin cancer.
To prevent skin cancer we must know that the sun and its radiations are more powerful between 10 in the morning and 16, therefore at that time we should avoid it if possible or pay attention to photoprotection. In addition, it is important to apply sunscreen half an hour before going out into the sun and use caps, hats and sunglasses.
Another warning sign to keep in mind is pay attention to all lesions that do not heal in two months; such as a pimple that did not stop bleeding in that period. For that we must know all our skin, that is, have self-control of it. If we do not have a history of skin cancer, mole control is recommended to be done once a year.
These precautions must be taken daily to guarantee the care of our skin. It is important to start being aware, just as we go to the doctor for other parts of the body, the skin is one more and deserves the same attention.
*Leisa Molinari (MN° 116,628). Doctor, dermatologist specializing in skin cancer and Mohs micrographic surgery. She is the founder of the Centro Médico de la Piel and a member of numerous national and international scientific societies. @dra.leisamolinari
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