All About Skin Cancer

The most common form of cancer is skin cancer. The good news is that skin cancer is extremely preventable and treatable when it’s caught at an early stage. You should be checking yourself for any signs of skin cancer regularly and visiting your dermatologist for checks annually. The sooner any signs of skin cancer are detected, the easier it typically is to treat skin cancer. It’s important to understand what the signs of skin cancer might be and when to see our dermatologist. 

All About Skin Cancer 

When left untreated, skin cancer can be extremely dangerous and can easily spread throughout your body. It’s important that you’re taking steps to prevent skin cancer from occurring. This means protecting your skin from UV rays. You should always wear sunscreen when going outside and avoid direct sun as much as possible. You should also avoid tanning booths. 

On top of protecting your skin, you need to be checking your skin monthly on your own. This means examining moles for any unusual factors. This includes: 

• Asymmetry  
• Undefined borders 
• Irregular shape  
• Irregular color 
• Bleeding or itchiness 
• New moles 
• Size larger than a pencil eraser 

If you do notice any of these signs, it’s important to talk to your dermatologist as soon as possible to discuss testing and treatment. They will perform a biopsy of your mole and check it for cancerous cells. If cancer is detected, your dermatologist will need to remove the cancerous cells as soon as possible. This is typically done in a simple procedure that helps keep your healthy tissue as intact as possible. 

Contact Our Dermatologist Today 

Make sure you understand the signs of skin cancer and how you can protect your skin. Contact our dermatologist at Dermatology Associates Skin and Cancer Center in Panama City, FL, as soon as possible to schedule your appointment today. Call us at (850) 769- SKIN (7546).