Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer affecting more than 200,000 cases per year in the united states. When melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable, in case is not the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. Every one is at risk of having melanoma while some are at a greater risk depending on these factors, exposure to the sun, family history, number of moles on the body and skin type. The main cause of melanoma is the over exposure of the sun ultra violet rays without any protection, for example sunscreen lotion or not re-applying sunscreen lotion after a couple of hours. In order for sunscreen lotion to protect …show more content…
The superficial spreading melanoma is is the most common type affecting 70% of all melanoma cases. As the name suggests this kind of melanoma grows along the top layer of the skin for a long time before penetrating more deeply. Lentigo maligna also remains close to the skin surface for some time it appears as a flat or mildly elevated motted tan, brown, or dark brown discoloration. This type of melanoma is usually found in the elderly in their face, ears, arms, and upper trunk where exposed to the sun. Acral lentiginous melanoma it usually appears as a black or brown discoloration under the nails, soles of the feet, or palms of the hands. This type of melanoma is usually found in dark-skinned people for example african-americans and asians. Nodular melanoma is usually invasive at the time of diagnosis, is recognized by a bump that is of different colors like black, blue, grayThe four basic types of melanoma are superficial spreading melanoma, lentigo maligna, acral lentiginous melanoma, and nodular melanoma. In conclusion, exposure to the sun rays for a long period of time can be very harmful to our skin not only do we get sun burned, but in the long run it can cause melanoma most commonly know as skin cancer. Protecting our skin with sunscreen, hats, clothing, and shade can be very beneficial to the overall health of our skin through our life because we will be at a smaller risk of having melanomas. Sun exposure is when with moderation and protection our body needs the vitamin D to function properly, we just need to be careful when being exposed to the sun