PREVENT
We can’t say it enough: prevention and early detection are crucial to minimizing your chances of getting skin cancer. Protect yourself from UV light by using a broad spectrum sunscreen every day (even when it’s cloudy!). Minimize exposure to the sun between 10am – 4pm by seeking shade, covering up, and always wearing a sultry sun-hat. And for the ladies out there, make sure your foundation has SPF.
DETECT
The incidence of skin cancer continues to rise at an alarming rate with over one million non-melanoma skin cancers and over 60,000 melanomas detected this year alone. Don’t be shy… have your Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist check your skin from head to toe and make this an annual part of your health routine. Also, learn to keep your skin in the clear by performing a self-exam once a month.
Pay particular attention to spots that do any of the following:
- Change in size
- Change in color
- Start hurting, itching, or bleeding
If you have a something like this, see a doctor ASAP! Waiting too long to get check out is the worst mistake you can make when it comes to skin cancers. The sooner you get diagnosed, the better chance you have of being treated and cured.
TREAT
If your doctor suspects that you have skin cancer, he or she will likely need to remove it. For skin cancer on your face or an old one that has returned, you may need to have a specialized procedure called Mohs Micrographic Surgery. With this technique, the surgeon is able to precisely identify and remove the cancer while maximizing the normal healthy skin left behind. The surgery is usually performed in an outpatient setting using local anesthesia.
EDUCATE
If you need more information about skin cancer, please feel free to contact us anytime by calling or texting us in the office at 917-703-7069, or send us a message by clicking here.
