“Lunar observation is essential to detect it”

May 23 is a very marked date in the calendar of health experts, where World Melanoma day is held and affects its prevention. He melanomawhich affects a large part of society, is a condition that almost 8,000 cases in Spain are diagnosed per year; A figure that is around 8.7 cases per 100,000 people/year. “The incidence of melanoma is increasing in white people. Recently an increase in this incidence has been observed, being above 2% per year. As if that were not enough, the mortality rate would be around 2.2 cases per 100,000 people/year, “says Dr. Marta González, Dermatologist of IMR.

How are melanoma detected?

Its detection passes, in the first instance, to go to the consultation of the specialists at least once a year. A visit that, in addition to serving to review the moles, It will help catalog the most vulnerable people to suffer melanomasuch as the family history, having previously suffered a melanoma, having 50 or more atypical lunar, having suffered solar burns during childhood and youth or belonging to the light skin phototype, where people with blonde, redhead and light eyes are found. However, as the expert explains, “the lunar observation is essential and will have an ABCDE rule, five risk indicators of suffering from cancer lesions:

• Asymmetry: half of a mole looks different from the other half.
• Borders: irregular, blurred and even poorly defined.
• Color: The moles or are particularly dark or have multiple colors.
• Diameter: The diameter of the stain exceeds five millimeters.
• Evolution: Lunar suffers alterations in shape, size or color, becoming inflamed or bloody.

What types of melanoma are the most common?

When we talk about melanomathe most common is to identify four clinical forms, where the melanoma of surface extension, nodular melanoma, the evil-melanoma lentigo and acral lentiginous melanoma.

• Surface extension melanoma: es The most common form of melanomawhich appears mainly in areas exposed occasionally to the sun, as is the case of the legs – in the case of women – or in the back – in the case of men. And although it grows horizontally, over time it can also grow vertically, invading deep skin layers.
• Melanoma nodular: “This is the second type of melanoma more frequent And from the beginning it has vertical growth, which is characterized by invading the deepest layers of the skin. For this reason, it is considered more aggressive than the surface extension melanoma, “says the dermatologist.
• Malignant-melanoma lentigo: It is presented on the skins that have been exposed to the sun long for years and the most common is to appear in areas such as the face or neck in elderly people. Your growthunlike surface extension melanoma or nodular melanoma It is slower.
• Lentiginth melanoma acral: As González explains, acral lentiginous melanoma It is the least frequent type of melanoma And it usually occurs in dark skin patients, located in the plants and palms of the hands, as well as nails.

How can melanoma be prevented?

“Since the main risk factor is sun exposure, The accumulation of ultraviolet radiation should be avoided and solar burns. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid prolonged sun exposure, something especially important during the summer months, in which it should be avoided during the central hours of the day, “adds the specialist. If this is not possible, González recommends using physical photoprotection in the form of an umbrella, hat and sunglasses, although it also recommends applying a solar photoprotector of wide spectrum with a sun protection factor (fps) of at least 50 Half an hour before leaving home.

SPF + Antioxidants: The formula for protecting the skin, improving its appearance and preventing the appearance of spots

When radiation and pollution exceed the SPF barrier, it generates an excess of free radicals. These molecules, which are both unstable and reactive, damage two of the key components of the skin, such as collagen and elastin. As a result, The skin favors the appearance of wrinkles and spots but also loses firmness and accelerates skin aging. In this regard, making use of a sunscreen is fundamental, but as David Fernández Polo, Skincare Education Specialist by Paula’s Choice, states, “the sunscreen is not infallible to environmental aggressions. Combining it with antioxidants not only increases this level of protection, but also Improve the appearance and health of the skin“.

The role of antioxidants in skin care

Although our body has antioxidants Naturally to neutralize free radicals, oxidative stress causes antioxidant reserves to get exhausted. “While the SPF acts as an external shield, Antioxidants – among those who are found vitamin C, vitamin E, niacinamide, green tea extract or retinoids–, protect from the inside, neutralizing excess free radicals generated not only by the sun, but by pollution and lifestyle, “says Fernández Polo.