Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, affecting one in five people in the US, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Fortunately, your dermatologist is an expert at diagnosing and treating skin cancer.
Skin cancer can be caused by excessive sun exposure and you are at greater risk if you are fair-skinned, have a history of skin cancer, don’t wear sunscreen or spend a lot of time out in the sun.
There are several types of skin cancer, some of which are easily treatable like squamous cell and basal cell carcinoma. There is another type of skin cancer, known as malignant melanoma, which is sometimes harder to treat and can be fatal.
You can protect yourself from developing skin cancer by following a few simple steps. You need to:
- Wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day
- Wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 50 if you are out in the sun for long periods and reapply throughout the day
- Avoid direct sun exposure from 10 AM to 4 PM, when ultraviolet rays are strongest
You should also check your skin regularly and look for moles that have:
- Changed in appearance
- Look different from other moles or growths
- Come back after a previous removal
Your dermatologist can take a small sample of tissue and have it examined to determine if it is cancerous. This process is known as a biopsy and can determine what type of cancer and the stage of cancer you have.
If you do have skin cancer, several professional treatments are available from your dermatologist. Professional treatments include:
- Freezing pre-cancerous tissue, known as cryosurgery
- Removing cancerous tissue with an excision or electrodessication and curettage
Removing cancerous skin layers one at a time, known as Mohs micrographic surgery
When you are out in the sun, you need to protect your skin! To learn more about prevention, symptoms, and treatment of skin cancer, call the experts at Ocala Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center. You can reach them in Ocala, FL, by calling (352) 237-2322, or in Summerfield, FL, by calling (352) 347-4500, so call now.
