Skin Cancer Prevention

BY JAMES S. BURKHARDT, D.O.

            Your risk of getting skin cancer is real.  More than 2 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United  States each year.  Now that the weather is getting nice, (finally), people are getting outside much more.  Unfortunately, that increased sun exposure increases your risk of skin cancer.  Fortunately, there are ways to reduce your risk.

            When I look at moles or lesions on the skin,there are several things to which I pay attention.  The first is the size of the spot on the skin; the larger the lesion, the more suspicious I am.  I like to see the edges nice and smooth.  I do not like to see notched or jagged borders.  I like to see the color on the spot uniform.  I don’t like to see light or dark areas in the lesions.  I don’t like to see the color on the lesion “leaking” into normal skin.  Or if the spot changes; if it itches, or burns, or bleeds or gets larger then I am a little more suspicious.  A change to your skin may be the most important warning sign.

            There are 3 basic types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. 

            Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer.  It most often appears on skin that gets lots of sun, such as the face, ear and on other parts of the body, too.  It can appear on parts of the body that did not get lots of sun, such as the genital areas. 

            BCC grows slowly.  It may look like a:

                        -Reddish patch of dry skin that won’t heal

                        -Flesh-colored (or pink, red, or brown) pearl-shaped lump

                        -Pimple that just won’t clear

                        -Sore that bleeds, heals, and then returns

                        -Scar that feels waxy – may be skin-colored, white, or yellow

                        -Group of slow-growing, shiny pink or red growths – look like sores, often                     scaly and bleed easily

                        -Flat or sunken growth – feels hard, may be white or yellow

            Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is a very common type of skin cancer.  It usually appears on skin that gets a lot of sun, such as the face, ear, bald areas.  But it can also appear anywhere.  Too much sun is often the cause, but it is not the only cause.  It can appear on skin that was badly burned or had exposure to strong chemicals.

             SCC often has a reddish color.  Without treatment, it can grow deeply.  If this happens, the cancer can spread to other places.  It can be:

                        -Hard (scaly or crusty) reddish bump, patch, or pearl-shaped growth

                        -Open sore that itches and bleeds; it can heal and return

                        -Scaly patch on the lip; skin on the lip can get thick

            Melanoma often appears in an existing mole or looks like a new mole.  Sometimes you can find melanoma when it first appears.  When treated early, melanoma is often curable. 

            Here’s what to look for:

                        -A mole on the skin that is growing, changing shape, or changing color

                        -A mole that looks scaly, oozes, or bleeds

                        -New dark spot on the skin that looks like a mole, but grows quickly

                        -Pain, itch or bleeding in a new spot on the skin

                        -Streak (usually brown or black) underneath a fingernail or toenail

                        -Bruise on the foot that does not heal

            The above descriptions of skin lesions are helpful, but pictures are better when it comes to skin lesions.  The American Academy of Dermatology has a website (www.aad.org) that has excellent  pictures of these conditions. 

            There are several tips to help prevent skin cancer. 

                        -NEVER use a tanning bed.  These can cause skin cancer.  Research shows that using a tanning bed may increase your risk of skin cancer by 75%.

                        -ALWAYS wear sunscreen.  The sun is a known cause of skin cancer.  Sunscreen should be used every day when you go out.  You need to select a type that protects against UVA and UVB rays.  It should have an SPF of at least 30. 

                        -AVOID the outdoors from 10 AM to 4 PM.  This is when the sun is the strongest. 

            If you have a lesion or mole that seems suspicious, contact your family doctor or dermatologist.