The most common skin cancer worldwide is non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). It is an abnormal growth of the skin which starts from the skin cell and damage the tissues nearby, in very rare cases it spreads out to other body areas. Sometimes the skin may not grow or cell in the skin changes and lead to the non-cancerous growths for example warts, moles, dermatofibromas and skin tags. Changes in the skin cells also cause the precancerous condition, which is the initial stage of cancer and if it is not treated it may lead to cancer, the condition of the skin is actinic keratosis.
The non-melanoma skin cancer often starts in round cells called Basal cells which are found in the top of the skin (epidermis) known as basal cell carcinoma; flat cells – squamous cells, this type of cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma and often found early. Merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma counts under Rare types of non-melanoma skin cancer.
Solar ultraviolet radiation is one of the main risk factors as per the research conducted in “Technical University” Munich, Germany by a group of scientists and leads by Dr. A. Zink.
This came into recognition as an occupational disease for outdoor workers in various regions of different countries. However, the outdoor professions with diverse daily activity associated with a different amount of Ultra Violet Radiation exposure. This research was followed to compare the wide extent of Non- Melanoma Skin Cancer according to the different outdoor profession.
The study was conducted with 563 participants consist of outdoor and indoor working profession, where 348 women workers (47%) consisting of farmer, gardener, mountain guides and 215 indoor workers. Non- Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC) was diagnosed in 33.3% of mountain guides, 27.4% of farmers, 19.5% of gardeners and in 5.6% of indoor workers.
The research provided considerable data about the difference in outdoor and indoor working professionals, where the outdoor women professions in high altitudes at the highest risk. To avoid daily ultraviolet radiation exposure during work, protective behavior such as sunscreen should be used during work. Considerable differences between the occupations were also seen in skin cancer rates like in gardeners (27.6%), farmers (31.9%), mountain guides (57.8%) and indoor worker (61.4%).
The number of hours and altitude of working outside seem to make a huge difference, the results provided enough information of tailoring prevention from UVR exposure for different professions based on their individual needs so we should adjust our sun protection accordingly.
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