Skin Cancer: A Brief Overview
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, tans were highly fashionable. This trend is no longer as popular, however, as people have become more aware of the dangers of routine sun exposure. Still, many people—especially those with naturally fair skin in the Western world—feel more confident with a glowing tan. This may be because pasty skin was long associated with illness, while a bronzed surface symbolized beauty, wealth, and good health.
Despite some people’s ongoing desire for a golden look, dermatologists caution that tanning isn’t something anyone should strive for. In fact, the coloring is a sign of damage, and spending too much time in the sun can increase a person’s risk of developing early signs of aging and even disease. Dr. Ellen Turner and her team can advise patients who believe they have skin cancer at her Dallas-based clinic, where there is an emphasis on education and multiple treatment options.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world. Experts believe that in 2019 alone, 192,310 cases of melanoma will have been diagnosed in Americans.
The three most prevalent types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Each type has distinct features, so it helps to be knowledgeable of the signs and symptoms to watch for. Unlike cancers of the internal organs, skin cancer is typically visible on the outside of the body. When proper treatment is provided during the early stages of the disease’s development, cure rates are higher, and the survival rate has been shown to rise significantly.
Men and women alike can protect their skin from sun exposure—and reduce their risk of developing skin cancer—by routinely applying an adequate amount of broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen (with a high SPF of 30 or more). Your dermatologist can help you choose the right sunscreen for your lifestyle if you’re unsure. You should also seek shelter during the most intense, peak hours of sunlight in your area.
There are a wide variety of factors that can increase a person’s risk of skin cancer. These include sunburn, spending a lot of time outdoors due to your lifestyle or job, exposure to artificial or indoor tanning, genetics, having lots of moles or freckles, having a history of skin cancer, or having an especially vulnerable immune system. Although skin cancer affects people of all races, being Caucasian increases a person’s chances of developing it, especially for those with blond or red hair and light eyes. Males over the age of 50 are more prone to this disease. If you’ve had intense or frequent sunburns when you were younger, this makes you more susceptible.
Some of the most common examples of sun damage are wrinkles, dark spots, redness, broken blood vessels or spider veins, and leathery patches. The majority of moles found on the body are benign. If you’ve noticed irregularities, however, a dermatologist can provide a thorough skin exam to inspect the entire surface—including areas that are not usually exposed to the sun, as these can still develop cancer. If anything unusual is noticed, further tests, such as a skin biopsy, may be administered.
One useful guideline to follow for recognizing signs of skin cancer in moles is the ABCDE rule:
Asymmetry: “A” stands for asymmetry, when one side of a mole does not look like the other.
Border: “B” refers to the border. Patients should watch out for jagged or uneven outlines.
Color: Another possible sign of skin cancer is abnormal or variegated colors, such as blue, gray, red, pink, or white.
Diameter: Moles should be relatively small in diameter, so anything larger than around 6 mm is suspicious.
Evolving: Normal, common moles don’t change much throughout an adult’s life, so if you notice new symptoms that weren’t there before—like inflammation, growth, or bleeding—the change can suggest a more serious problem.
The Dermatology Office of Dr. Ellen Turner provides skin cancer screenings, diagnosis, and treatment for patients in the Dallas area and beyond. For general inquiries or to book a consultation, call directly at (214) 373-7546, drop by the clinic, or visit their website.