Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a form of skin cancer that develops from the basal cells within your epidermis. These basal cells are located at the base of your skin’s outermost layer. BCC appears as a small, occasionally shiny bump or a scaly, flat patch on the skin that gradually increases in size.
Basal cells are tiny cells found in the outermost layer of your skin (epidermis), which is the layer you can observe and feel on your body. These cells are in charge of generating new skin cells through replication and division. As basal cells produce new cells, the older skin cells move upward towards the epidermis’s surface, where they perish and are excreted from your body.
There are four main types of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), including:
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can impact anyone, though it tends to be slightly more prevalent in males and individuals who were assigned male at birth. It’s more frequent in individuals aged over 50 years. Those with fair skin and light-coloured eyes are more susceptible to BCC. Individuals who have had BCC in the past are at an increased risk of developing another type of non-melanoma skin cancer later on.
Signs of basal cell carcinoma include:
Basal cell carcinomas are typically found on parts of your body that are frequently exposed to sunlight.
The areas where basal cell carcinomas are most often seen are:
A modification in your genetic code leads to basal cell carcinoma. This alteration typically occurs following your skin has been overexposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or tanning beds.
Your genetic material provides your body’s DNA with the blueprint to generate new cells to replace those that have reached the end of their life cycle through replication. Should a mutation occur in one of your genes, your DNA will lack the necessary instructions for cell generation.
Basal cells replicate new cells in a manner similar to flipping a light switch upon entering a room. When you need to enter a room, you flip the switch on. Upon leaving, you flip it off. Basal cells replicate new cells when their switch is on. If a genetic mutation affects your DNA, your basal cells are unable to switch off the light, leading to an overproduction of cells, which results in the formation of lumps (tumours) or lesions on the outer skin layer (epidermis).
A very uncommon genetic disorder known as basal cell nevus syndrome is responsible for the development of basal cell carcinoma in children.
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