Did you know that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and that anyone can be at risk? The month of May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and you need to know the facts about skin cancer. The board-certified dermatologists at Feinstein Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach, FL, are the experts to see for the prevention, screening, and treatment of skin cancer.
What You Need To Know About Skin Cancer
Skin cancer can develop in different forms. The three most common types of skin cancer are:
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Basal cell carcinoma
- Melanoma
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
There are several factors that can put you at risk of developing skin cancer, including having:
- Fair skin and freckles
- Light hair and eyes
- A tendency to sunburn easily
- A family history of skin cancer
You are also at risk of skin cancer if you spend long periods of time outdoors with no sunscreen.
What You Can Do to Prevent Skin Cancer
Remember that sun damage doesn’t just happen in the summer. The sun is also intense during the winter months, so you should:
- Wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 daily
- Try to avoid being out in the sun during the hours of 10 AM to 4 PM, when damaging ultraviolet rays are the highest
- Wear sun blocking clothing and accessories, including a hat and sunglasses
- Do a self-check of your skin regularly
Signs of Skin Cancer
When you perform a self-check of your skin, you need to look for moles that have:
- A diameter larger than 6 millimeters
- Ragged, poorly defined borders
- An asymmetrical shape
- Itching, oozing, or bleeding
How Our Dermatologists Can Help Treat Skin Cancer
Our dermatologist will perform a thorough skin examination to check for suspicious areas and abnormal moles. Once a skin cancer is diagnosed, our dermatologist may recommend Mohs surgery to evaluate tissue one layer at a time, using a special microscope. Mohs surgery offers several important advantages, including tissue conservation, an improved cosmetic outcome, and easier recovery after treatment. Dr. Brian Feinstein is board certified in Mohs and Dermatology and has performed over 10,000 Mohs cases in the last decade.
Mohs surgery is a safe and effective technique for removing skin cancer lesions. Rather than cutting around the entire lesion, which may result in significant scarring and other risks, Mohs surgery involves removing thin layers of the lesions. The process continues until our Mohs surgeon find a layer of skin with no skin cancer cells.
Want to Learn More?
To learn more about skin cancer awareness and skin cancer diagnosis and treatment including Mohs surgery, talk with the experts. Call the board-certified dermatologists at Feinstein Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and Boynton Beach, FL. You can reach them in the office by calling (561) 692-6422 or toll-free at (888) 357-DERM, so call today.
