Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common forms of skin cancer and can potentially be prevented if certain procedures are followed daily. It can strike not only people but animals too. This type of skin cancer originates on the skin and most often occurs as a result of overexposure to unprotected skin. Those people that are fair-skinned or people and animals that spend a lot of time outdoors should be most concerned.

SCC affects the squamous cells on the surface of the skin which are thin and often scaly under a microscope. Generally one of the first signs of SCC is the appearance of red scaly patches on exposed areas of the skin. Sun damage such as burns can cause these cells to change and form into cancerous cells leading directly to skin cancer. After many years of exposure these damaged cells can form into lesions and appear as patches or sores and often spread if not diagnosed early enough.

Needless to say sunscreen is ultimately one of the best defenses against skin cancers and diseases such as this that are a result of the sun. Not only is sunscreen the best way to prevent sunburns it will also help prevent squamous cell carcinoma. That is not to say that sunscreen will entirely prevent SCC but it will drastically reduce the chances of it occuring and it should be a part of your daily routine.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 15th, 2011 at 12:00 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.