Skin Cancer

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What are types of skin cancer?

Skin cancer can be of various types- Basal Cell Carcinoma, Sqaumous Cell Carcinoma and Melanoma.

What are types of skin cancer?

With the depletion of the ozone layer, increased ultraviolet light and people’s different styles of leisure, we are seeing it increase. On the other hand, the public is more aware of the changes that occur on the skin. They’re concerned about making sure their families are protected, so they’re coming in earlier to check out skin lesions.

What are the risk factors?

The first thing is genetic disposition. If you’re blond, blue-eyed and have fair skin, you’re probably at a higher risk than someone who is more pigmented. But skin cancer occurs in all races and is associated with sun exposure. It’s also associated with altitude, and how close you live to the equator. Children are actually the most susceptible, since most sun exposure occurs between birth and age 16. Unless you have a lifestyle like a farmer, golfer or sailor, you’re not going to get too much sun exposure after that. People who are most prone to develop skin cancer are the office workers who stay indoors and then suddenly loll out in the sun during a vacation.

Read More: Facial Rejuvenation Medifacials

How can a person determine whether he or she may have skin cancer?

There are two things to watch for. One is a change in a pre-existing mole. It could be anything – a growth, bleeding, itching or a change in color. The second is the appearance of pigmented lesion that’s dark brown and/or black – that’s usually a melanoma, a type of skin cancer that’s less common but a little more threatening.

How much sun damage does it take to trigger skin cancer?

An acute burn can be associated with the development of melanoma, but chronic damage from a low amount of radiation over 10-20 years can also trigger a basal or squamous cell carcinoma, which is more common. If you develop this – and there are about a million cases per year – your chances of developing a melanoma would be about twice as great.

What does the treatment of skin cancer involve?

The first thing we do is to take a biopsy to determine what the thickness of the melanoma or lesion is. If the lesion is thinner than a playing card, the cure rate is nearly 100 percent. If it’s thicker than 1 millimeter, we sometimes need to conduct additional scans and blood work.

What does the treatment of skin cancer involve?

Screening is a good idea, especially if you don’t have a physician who can look over the areas of your body you cannot see – like on your back and legs. In cases where medical economics are an issue, this is an excellent way to have a free screening to see that there are no lesions that need immediate attention.

What kinds of things can we do to protect ourselves from developing skin cancer?

Take a self-assessment of yourself and your family. Most people will have some changes already on their skin, a brown lesion, or a freckle. Those are signs that you’ve already had enough sun exposure to change your skin. We encourage people to reduce sun exposure between 10 am and 2 pm, wear sunscreen that’s rated at least SPF 30, and wear protective clothing.