Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with about 9,500 people being diagnosed with it on a daily basis. Many of these skin cancers are preventable- primarily by people protecting their skin from sun damage and stopping the use of tanning beds. Let’s shed some light on melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, and give insight on simple, but life-saving prevention and surveillance tips!
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Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is estimated that in the United States over 200,000 melanomas will be diagnosed and that over 8,000 people will actually die from this type of skin cancer in the year 2024.
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Melanoma can develop anywhere on anyone. Melanoma can show up anywhere on the skin, not just in sun-exposed areas. It can even develop around or under a nail. People of all skin tones can have this type of skin cancer. There are a few things that can put you at a higher risk for melanoma:
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Light skin tone, hair color (red or blonde), and/or eye color (blue or green)
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Having over 50 moles or many unusual looking moles
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History of blistering sunburns
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History of indoor tanning
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History of a previous melanoma or other type of skin cancer
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Weakened immune system from disease, medication, or organ transplant
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Sun protection is key for prevention. When outdoors, it is so important for you to protect your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
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Seek shade: Reduce your time in the sun during the peak of the day, when sunlight intensity is at its brightest. When you are outdoors, wear sun-protective clothing and seek physical shade whenever possible.
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Sunscreen: Wear a sunscreen every single day that is SPF 30 or higher and has zinc 5% or higher as its active ingredient. And when we say every single day, we mean every. single. day! You can still get sun damage no matter the season or cloud coverage. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
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If caught early, melanoma is highly treatable. Detecting melanoma early can save a life! Everyone should examine their own skin for concerning spots and have annual skin cancer screening with a dermatology provider.
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Self-exams: Know the ABCDEs of melanoma when looking at spots on your skin! Make an appointment with a dermatology provider for a closer look if you notice any of these red flags:
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Asymmetry: one half of the skin lesion doesn’t look like the other
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Border: the edges look irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined
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Color: the lesion has multiple colors or varying shades
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Diameter: anything greater than 6 mm in diameter (the size of a pencil eraser)
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Evolving: a spot that looks different from the rest of the spots on your skin, or a lesion that you have noticed is changing in size, shape, or color
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Get a full body skin check! See a dermatology provider for a comprehensive skin exam once a year, or on a more frequent basis depending on their specific recommendations for you.
Developing these lifelong habits for skin cancer prevention can make all the difference in the world. If it’s been over a year since your last skin exam (or if you’ve never had a full body skin exam), or if you have a new or changing spot of concern, book an appointment with one of our dermatology providers. We would be happy to partner with you to help detect and prevent skin cancer!
