SKIN CANCER PREVENTION

EXPERTS DEDICATED TO THE PREVENTION OF SKIN CANCER

CUTANEOUS MELANOMA

Cutaneous melanoma is a malignant cancer of cells that normally give color to our skin. Every year the overall incidence of melanoma continues to increase. While melanoma tends to be more common among Caucasians, individuals with darker skin types with melanoma tend to have worse outcomes. Furthermore, melanoma is the second most common cancer among women age 15-29. If caught early, melanomas can be removed and followed closely. However, delays in detection are tied to worse outcomes and increase the likelihood of early death.

RISK FACTORS & PREVENTION

There are many risk factors that increase the chances of developing melanoma including increased ultraviolet (UV) exposure, age, having red hair, blue eyes and/or lighter skin, a history of blistering sun burns prior to puberty and comorbid conditions or medications that weaken the immune system. Of these factors, UV radiation contributes to approximately 90% of cutaneous melanomas.

One of the best ways minimize the harmful effects of UV radiation is by wearing sunscreen. By using at least a sun-protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher rating, individuals can significantly reduce UV damage and sun burns.

"ABCDE"s of MELANOMA

Using the “ABCDE”s of melanoma

(A – asymmetry, B – border irregularity, C – color variegation, D – diameter greater than 6mm, E – evolution or change)

can help increase your chances of spotting skin cancer early when it is still treatable. If you have any worrisome spots, point these out to your board-certified dermatologist for further evaluation.

NON-MELANOMA
SKIN CANCERS (NMSCs)

NMSCs are the most commonly diagnosed skin cancers, with over 1 million new cases diagnosed each year. These grow after years of chronic exposure to UV radiation or environmental/occupational chemical exposures and are usually on sun-exposed areas including the face, neck, scalp, and dorsal arms. Additional risk factors for developing NMSCs include lighter skin types, sun-damaged skin, advanced age, and a weakened immune system. While NMSCs carry a lesser risk of distant metastases than cutaneous melanoma, more aggressive forms of NMSCs are known to spread to other organs in the body after causing severe local tissue destruction. NMSCs can further be categorized as basal cell carcinomas and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.

BASAL CELL CARCINOMAS

Basal cell carcinomas are the most common form of skin cancer, accounting for approximately 80% of NMSCs. A sign of a potential basal cell carcinoma is a pearly white, dome shaped skin lesion.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas are the second most common form of skin cancer. These have a slightly greater risk of spreading to other parts of the body (metastasizing). A sign of a potential squamous cell carcinoma is a rough, scaly spot that continues to grow, bleed, or cause pain.