Skin cancer is extremely common; over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of the disease each year and the number continues to rise. Â Although people with fair skin are thought to be more at risk, skin cancer can affect anybody.
Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common types of skin cancer, and they’re typically found on areas of the body that receive consistent exposure to the sun. In people who spend a significant amount of time outdoors, these cancers are more likely to develop around the head and neck. They aren’t life threatening, but definitely need to be treated to avoid damage to other body tissues.
Melanomas are tumors of melanin forming cells that can appear anywhere on the body. Like basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, they’re more likely to appear on sun exposed or sun burned areas.  Melanomas typically appear as dark irregular textures, and they grow at a fairly rapid pace.  It is crucial to detect and treat melanomas early on, before they spread to other areas of the body. To minimize your risk of skin cancer, follow these instructions:
- Wear sunblock, even on cloudy days.
- Use sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB.
- Realize that sunblock doesn’t make you impervious to sun damage.
- Protect the eyes and face with sunglasses or a cowboy hat
- If possible, avoid the peak hours of sun in the early afternoon
- Perform regular examinations of your skin to look for irregularities.
If you want more information on detection, prevention, or diagnosis of skin cancer, visit Advancements in Dermatology at one of our six Twin Cities locations.
