I’m Faith Lapidus with the VOA Special English Health
Report.
Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer.
The risk increases in summer because ultraviolet rays
from the sun are the main cause of skin cancer.
Tanning beds can also be high in UV radiation.
Anyone can get skin cancer, but people with light colored skin, hair or eyes
are at greatest risk. A history of sunburns early in life also increases the
risk. So does a family history of skin cancer.
The sooner skin cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. So doctors advise
people to examine all areas of their skin once a month, from the top of their
head to the bottom of their feet. Even look under the nails and between the
toes.
Professional examinations are also important. See a
doctor if a mole bleeds
or itches or is bigger than six millimeters.
Knowing what your skin looks like will help you recognize any changes in the
size, shape or color of growths. The Cleveland Clinic suggests taking pictures
of moles and dating the images to compare over time.
The two most common forms of skin cancer are basal cell and squamous cell
cancers. They can develop as flat, discolored areas or as raised growths, often
with a rough surface.
Melanoma is far more dangerous. Melanomas can appear even in areas of the
body that do not get a lot of sun. They can be flat or raised and have areas of
black, brown and other colors. Other signs include uneven borders or one half
different from the other.
Without early treatment, deadly melanomas can quickly spread within the body.
Hats, sunglasses and clothing offer protection from harmful sunrays, but that
can depend. Experts say the denser the weave of the material, the less
ultraviolet radiation reaches the skin. Also, darker colors may offer more
protection, and natural cotton can block more than bleached cotton. When
clothing is wet or stretched, however, it lets more UV radiation pass through.
Choose sunscreen products and sunglasses designed to protect against both
UV-A and UV-B rays. Experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
remind people to put on sunscreen before they go outdoors.
Put a thick amount on all areas of skin that will get sun. UV levels can be high even on cloudy days.Put on more
sunscreen if you stay in the sun for more than two hours, and after you swim or
sweat a lot from activities.
This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Brianna Blake. To learn
more about skin cancer, go to voaspecialenglish.com. I’m Faith Lapidus.
ultiviolet ray
: 紫外線
mole
: 痣
melanoma : 胎記瘤
（來源：VOA 英語點津姍姍編輯）
