What You Should Know About Skin Cancer

By Ross VanAntwerp, MD

Laser Center of Maryland

. https://lasercentermd.com

More Beauty Skin Care & Gorgeous Smiles Articles

What You Should Know About Skin Cancer

One in five Americans will develop skin cancer over the course of their lives. It is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common skin cancers, whereas malignant melanoma is the most dangerous.

Chronic sun exposure factors heavily in the growth of skin cancer according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Skin cancer is a potentially dangerous but preventable disease. Early detection and treatment is critical to a good outcome.

The American Cancer Society promotes the ABCD rule to help people evaluate the signs of melanoma and other skin cancers. These letters stand for Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color, and Diameter. Any mole or growth that has an uneven or notched border, multiple colors or is larger than the diameter of a pencil eraser should cause a trip to a qualified physician. You should check your skin monthly making note of any unusual changes.

Doctors use several methods to remove unwanted and suspicious moles. For example, laser surgery provides a high tech solution for the removal of some non-melanoma carcinomas. The laser employs the energy of light to vaporize and seal the lesion with the extra benefit of not causing damage to surrounding tissue. Laser treatment does not require stitches and has good cosmetic results.

Complete surgical excision of a growth with a scalpel is the standard method for removing melanomas. Dermatologists frequently freeze and destroy small basal cell carcinomas with liquid nitrogen. This method avoids the cutting and stitching of skin but may result in a scar.

Mohs surgery is another method used by dermatologists, and involves excising thin layers of a skin cancer while carefully checking each layer under a microscope for tumor cells.

The good news is that all of these treatment methods effectively cure skin cancer when caught early. But knowing how to prevent skin cancer is the best news of all.

Common prevention tips are
Limit time in the sun from 10AM to 4PM
Use a sunscreen with a physical block like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide,
Avoid tanning beds
Wear hats, long sleeves and sun glasses when in direct sun
Re-apply sunscreen after exercising or swimming.
Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Protect your skin, and see a doctor if you notice anything unusual.