Spending time in the sun can increase vitamin D levels, but it also accelerates aging and increases the risk of skin cancer. Whether you’ve spent years in the sun without using protection or you’ve always used sun protection and want to have your skin checked for the early signs of skin cancer, scheduling regular skin cancer screenings at Prizant Dermatology in Pittsburgh, PA, is the perfect preventative step that can help you invest in your current and future health.
There are a number of visible signs that indicate skin cancer. When you know what to look for, you can schedule an appointment with a specialist who will not only perform a skin cancer screening but also evaluate the potentially cancerous skin lesion, mole, or spot and help you determine the next best steps. The most common signs of skin cancer include the following:
One simple way to evaluate your current moles for change is with the ABCDE mole check system. This acronym stands for asymmetrical, border, color, diameter, and evolving. Healthy moles have a symmetrical shape, while irregular moles are often defined by their asymmetry. Irregular moles typically have a scalloped border that isn’t well-defined and can appear as multi-colored, unevenly colored, or change color over time.
You can also identify an irregular mole by its diameter, which is typically larger than a pencil eraser. Evolving moles must also be carefully watched as they can change color, shape, height, and size while causing certain symptoms like sudden itchiness and bleeding. They can also act like a sore that does not heal.
If you undergo a skin cancer screening and the specialist finds an irregular skin growth, lesion, or suspicious mole, a biopsy will be done to further evaluate the mole and determine whether it must be removed. If it’s benign, no further treatment will be necessary. Some patients choose to have benign moles removed for aesthetic reasons or because the mole causes an inconvenience and gets caught on clothing or jewelry.
There are several different types of mole removal techniques, including shave removal, freezing, laser removal, and excision. If you need or want to have a mole removed, we can discuss the different methods and help determine which is right for you.
Skin cancer screenings are annual appointments during which a qualified professional evaluates the entire surface of your skin for any signs of skin cancer. Not only will the practitioner spend time checking your skin, but you’ll also have time to discuss any concerns or changes you’ve noticed with new or pre-existing moles.
If one of your pre-existing moles has started to bleed or has changed shape, a skin cancer screening is the perfect time for the practitioner to evaluate it to determine whether it’s benign or a potential indicator of skin cancer. During skin cancer screenings, the practitioner will also evaluate all visible moles for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer.
This treatment is preventative in nature because it allows potential issues to be detected and then removed to prevent more serious health issues. Skin cancer screenings are simple, quick, and painless, and will make all the difference in your peace of mind regarding your skin and allow you to take the necessary preventative steps to detect and treat any issues as soon as possible.
Aside from scheduling annual skin cancer screenings, you can take other preventative steps to keep your skin healthy and prevent skin cancer. Limiting sun exposure is key to preventing skin cancer, especially avoiding sunburn. Sunburn significantly increases the risk of skin cancer, which is why wearing sunscreen is so important, regardless of whether it’s sunny or overcast.
When you know you’re going to be exposed to the sun, always wear a high-quality sunscreen with high SPF protection to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. UV rays exposure will accelerate aging and contribute to skin cancer.
Additionally, always wear sunglasses when in the sun to protect your eyes and the skin in the area, and wear clothing that covers your skin to prevent sun damage. If you want a deeper color, instead of laying out in the sun or using tanning beds, opt instead for cosmetic products like bronzers that can add some natural color, as well as organic sunless tanning products that will give you darker, glowing skin without increasing your risk of skin cancer.
If you’re committed to protecting your skin from the sun and scheduling regular skin cancer screenings but have pre-existing sun damage, we can help reverse it. We offer a sun damage treatment called Photodynamic Therapy that safely destroys sun-damaged cells so the body can naturally remove them from the system. We can give you more details about this treatment and confirm your eligibility as an initial consultation.
We advise that patients schedule annual skin cancer screenings for optimal prevention. However, if you notice a suspicious mole or skin growth between screenings, it’s important that you schedule an appointment to have it evaluated by a specialist so you can have peace of mind about your skin and proceed with the necessary removal process if it does happen to be cancerous.
Skin cancer is preventable with the right lifestyle choices and when you make skin cancer screenings a regular part of your skincare regimen. If you want to learn more about these screenings and our other dermatology services, we can give you more details and answer your questions. Contact us at Prizant Dermatology in Pittsburgh, PA, to schedule your next screening.
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