| basal cell carcinoma |
A kind of cancer that starts in the basal cells of the epidermis.
It is most common among fair-skinned people and older people.
It is caused by overexposure to the sun and to x-rays. |
| dermis |
The lower layer of our skin. It is made up of nerves, hair
follicles and blood vessels. |
| epidermis |
The top layer of our skin. It is made up of squamous cells,
melanocytes, and keratinocytes. |
| hair follicle |
A small depression in our skin that begins in the dermis.
Hair grows out of it. |
| keratinocytes |
A cell at the bottom layer of the epidermis. It manufactures
proteins. |
| malignant melanoma |
A type of cancer that begins in the melanocytes of the epidermis.
It is the most serious form of skin cancer. |
| melanin |
A black or dark brown pigment that is in our skin. It is produced
by cells called melanocytes. |
| melanocyte |
A cell that produces melanin. Melanocytes are in the lower
layers of our epidermis. |
| non-melanoma |
Skin cancer a type of cancer that begins in the epidermis.
It does not involve melanocytes. |
| ozone |
A kind of oxygen that can block UVC radiation. |
| ozone layer |
A layer in the atmosphere around the earth that blocks UVC
radiation. |
| pigment |
A colouring material that is produced by our bodies. |
| squamous cells |
A flat, scale-like cell that is an important part of our
skin. |
| squamous cell carcinoma |
A slow-growing skin cancer. It is often the result of overexposure
to the sun. |
| ultraviolet radiation |
A type of radiation from the sun, sunbeds and sunlamps which cannot be seen or felt. It
causes us to tan and burn. Too much ultraviolet radiation can
contribute to skin cancer. |
| UVA radiation |
A type of radiation that can cause skin to age and contribute
to skin cancer. Most of the radiation that reaches the earth
is UVA radiation. |
| UVB radiation |
A type of radiation that can burn your skin, damages your
eyes, and cause skin cancer. About 5% of the UVB radiation emitted
by the sun reaches the earth. |
| UVC radiation |
A type of radiation that rarely reaches the earth. It is stopped
by the ozone layer. But more of it is reaching the earth because
of the hole in the ozone layer. It causes serious damage to
your skin. |
