Nick Grimm, a physician assistant, providing dermatology services with BayCare Clinic joined us on Wisconsin Tonight to talk about skin safety, even after summer months.
He said, summer is pretty much over but the precautions we urged during the hot, sunny weather still hold true, even as autumn closes in. More than 90 percent of all skin cancers are linked to sun exposure and the cancer-causing ultraviolet radiation the sun emits all year round. The fall season isn’t reason to ignore those sun exposure precautions.
Is keeping our skin safe in September any different than keeping it safe in mid-July?
Our advice for keeping your skin safe in June, July or August is the same advice we offer for protecting your skin year round. The Skin Cancer Foundation offers some great skin protection advice:
* Seek the shade, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
* Do not burn.
* Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths.
* Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.
* Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. For extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant, broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
* See your doctor every year for a professional skin exam.
And this is all part of an effort to avoid skin cancer?
Yes, it is. As we said earlier, more than 90 percent of all skin cancers are linked to sun exposure. Nearly 5 million people are treated for skin cancer each year in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Following very basic precautions can significantly reduce our risk of this avoidable disease.
What is skin cancer?
It’s essentially an abnormal growth of cells. When healthy cells change and grow out of control, they form a mass called a tumor. Tumors can be cancerous or malignant (meaning it can grow and spread) or they can be benign (meaning it can grow but not spread). If skin cancer is detected early, it can usually be treated and cured. As a result, skin cancer is responsible for less than 1 percent of all cancer deaths.
What are symptoms of skin cancer?
Follow the ABCDE rule in identifying symptoms:
* A is for Asymmetry: One half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other
* B is for Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred
* C is for Color: The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue
* D is for Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about ¼ inch – the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this
* E is for Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color
What are typical skin cancer treatment options?
Treatment options include, but are not limited to:
* Biopsy of suspicious lesions
* Removal of precancerous growths (actinic keratosis)
* Surgical removal of skin cancers
* Non-surgical treatments such as creams and light therapy
* Removal of benign (noncancerous) lesions
More information
For information, call Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic at 920-288-8240.
