Skin Cancer
Tis the season for sun damage and May is skin cancer awareness month.
Did you know I am a member of OHSU’s department of Dermatology’s Skin Crew and hold Impact Melanoma’s Skinny on Skin certification? With this training and my many years of experience analyzing skin under a magnifying glass, I can help you detect skin cancers early. I have helped many people find different kinds of skin cancer spots during facials. I am also a great person to have look at something on other parts of your body and am happy to do so, just ask!
Don’t be scared, be realistic. Many of the most common kinds of skin cancers can be cured like the squamous cell carcinoma and the basal cell carcinomas in the above image.
The most dangerous form of skin cancer is melanoma because it is more likely to spread to other parts of the body. This dangerous cancer also has a high chance of being cured if caught early!
How do we catch it early? Surely you’ve heard of the ABCDE check for moles:
A - Asymmetry - one half of the mole is unlike the other half
B - Border - the border of the mole is irregular, scalloped or not clearly defined
C - Color - the mole has various colors
D - Diameter - the diameter of the mole is larger than 6mm (the same diameter as a pencil eraser)
E - Evolving - A mole that changes in size, shape, color, or texture is a warning sign as is a mole that tingles, itches, burns, bleeds, oozes, or feels strange. Another warning sign for melanoma is a sore that does not heal.
See something questionable? Notice a change? Contact your primary care doctor to have a look-see ASAP and be sure to mention it to me at your next facial.
Learn a lot more about melanoma at Impact Melanoma.
Here are 5 easy things you can do to help your skin not get cancers:
Don’t you dare use a tanning bed.
Remember, we are not smarter than the sun. SPF can not block all of the sun’s rays all of the time.
Seek shade.
Do use a physical SPF! Meaning the active ingredients are either Zinc Oxide or Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide. Shop my favorites here.
Do use Vitamin C on your skin! Vitamin C has long been tested and proven to help repair the damage that the sun does to our skin cells. It’s a solid antioxidant that I trust. Shop my favorites here.
Now go enjoy this beautiful sunshine safely!
