Start a skin care routine  

The most common skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma is commonly known as the most serious of the common skin cancers and has the potential to be life threatening.  

With winter upon us, we tend to cover up our skin and forget it! As a board-certified dermatologist, I encourage you to be on the lookout for skin cancer year-round. Here are my recommendations.

Schedule full-body skin exams. Getting an annual full-body skin exam, also known as a skin cancer screening, is a simple screening that could save your life. Early detection is key to successfully treating most skin cancers. Similar to seeing a dentist at least once a year for routine care, most adults can benefit from an annual skin cancer screening exam from a dermatology provider.

In a full-body skin exam, a dermatologist will check your skin from head to toe, using a hand-held magnifying device called a dermatoscope. If a suspicious spot is found, your provider may do a biopsy by removing all or part of the lesion to evaluate it under a microscope. If it is skin cancer, your provider will discuss treatment options and work with you to develop a treatment plan based off the type of skin cancer and location.

Routine full-body skin exams from a dermatology provider are particularly important for people who have had heavy sun exposure during their lives, a personal or family history of skin cancer, history of sunburns or tanning bed use, and a greater number of moles. Your dermatology provider will recommend the frequency of screenings based on your risk factors.

Check your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that people regularly check their skin to help find skin cancer early when it is highly treatable. It’s reasonable to perform self-exams once or twice a year between check-ups with a dermatologist.  

Watch for new moles and the ugly duckling, the mole that stands out from the rest. The easiest way to check your skin is by examining all sides of your body in a mirror. Use a hand mirror to check out the back of your neck and scalp. Part your hair for a good look at your scalp. Look closely at your arms and legs. Don’t forget the backs of your legs.

To learn how to perform a self-exam, visit the American Academy of Dermatology website at www.aad.org.

Get spots checked. If you notice a spot that is new, changing, growing, itching, bleeding, or not healing, see your primary care provider and get a referral to see a dermatologist for further evaluation.

Be aware of the ABCDEs of melanoma.

• A – A-Symmetry: One half is unlike the other half.
• B – Border is irregular. 
• C – Color varies.
• D – Diameter is greater than a pencil eraser.
• E – Evolving and changing in size, shape, color or elevation.

Early is on time

My best advice is: Early is on time. Early detection is key to successful management of most skin cancers.