The sun rises earlier and sets later every day. And when that giant yellow orb of sky peeks out from behind the clouds, we can’t help it: we want to be outside to feel the sun! It’s an almost primal urge. And yet, as Northeast Ohio’s premiere dermatology practice, you know what we’re going to say next: don’t forget apply sunscreen because literally anyone can get skin cancer. No, it’s not a fun topic, but awareness and vigilance can save your life!
The skin cancer statistics is severe: One in five people will develop some form of skin cancer before age 70, and if you’ve had five or more sunburns in your lifetime, your risk for melanoma, the deadliest form skin cancerit is double. The American Cancer Society estimates that 100,640 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma this year alone. And sadly, two people die from skin cancer every hour.
The good news in all of this? With early detection of skin cancer, the 5-year survival rate is almost 99 percent! So, get educated, learn how to detect skin cancer early, and get your skin is checked regularly so we can catch and treat any potentially cancerous lesions as quickly as possible.
Of course, melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer, but any type of skin cancer can become fatal if not diagnosed and treated early. Understanding the different types of skin cancer, checking your skin regularly, and knowing how to detect skin cancer early can give you the tools you need to protect yourself and those you love from this disease.
The first thing to understand is that when your skin is exposed to UV rays from the sun or a tanning bed, your skin cells react. Excessive exposure can burn and damage your skin. Sometimes, this UV exposure will cause skin cells to grow abnormally, which starts skin cancer. The three most common types of skin cancer include:
Basal cell carcinoma occurs when the basal cells in the outer layer of the skin become cancerous. Stains from basal cell carcinoma they can look like flat scaly patches or shiny, raised bumps on the skin, often on the face, arms, chest, back or legs – usually areas that are frequently exposed to the sun. This is the most common form of skin cancer.
The second most common form of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma, which causes the squamous cells in the middle layer of the skin to grow out of order. Again, this occurs in areas that also have significant sun exposure.
Although melanoma is not as common as the other two, it is the most dangerous because it can spread aggressively to other parts of the body if not stopped early. This skin cancer starts in the deeper, melanin-producing melanocytes in the skin (the cells that give us our skin color). Knowing what to look for here is important, as Dr. Arballo explains:
In addition to these three main forms of skin cancer, rarer forms may also occur in some people, such as:
Projective dermatofibrosarcoma
- Projective dermatofibrosarcoma
- Merkel cell carcinoma
- Kaposi’s sarcoma
- Carcinoma of sebaceous glands
Overall, skin cancer in its many forms is the most common type of cancer in America. It is also the easiest to treat if caught early.
Although absolutely anyone can develop skin cancer, early detection of melanoma skin cancer involves understanding your personal risk factors. People who already had skin cancer in the past or who have family members who have had skin cancer should be extra careful, as Dr. Arballo explains:
“People with a history of skin cancer should be evaluated at least annually, sometimes more often depending on the type of skin cancer and how long before they were diagnosed. When in doubt, ask your dermatologist when they recommend you get checked again.”
In addition to a genetic predisposition to skin cancer, check for the following risk factors that could indicate a higher risk of skin cancer:
- Unprotected sun exposure
- You get sunburned easily
- Light skin
- Lots of freckles and moles
- People with red or blonde hair
- People with blue or green eyes
- Have you used a tanning bed?
- You live at higher altitudes or in a sunny climate
- You have taken immunosuppressive drugs
- You have been diagnosed with actinic keratosis (a precancerous skin condition that causes scaly, rough brown or pink patches).
Even if you don’t have any of these risk factors, skin cancer is still a risk. But if you can check some of these items off the list, you should get oursskin cancer risk assessment quiz. Either way, protecting your skin from UV exposure and having regular skin exams with your dermatologist is extremely important.
That said, detecting skin cancer early depends a lot on knowing exactly what to look for. The ABCDEs are a useful tool to use as you do self-checks at home:
Do you have an unusually shaped spot with one area larger than the other?
Is the space between the spot itself and the rest of your skin undefined, scalloped, or irregular?
Melanomas can be quite dark. black or dark brown, for example. But it can also be different shades of tan, blue, red or even white. Spots with more than one color are worrisome.
Is the point bigger than the eraser on your nearest pencil? Although size is not always a factor, with the presence of these other symptoms, it can be a concern. Also, if the spot has grown recently, you should have it checked.
If you have a spot that has been the same for many years, but has started to change in any of these ways (change in size, color, symmetry, etc.) it’s time toschedule a SPOT check.
Although Dr. Arballo is new to Apex Dermatology, has a long history of diagnosing skin cancer and saving lives with successfulskin cancer surgeryand follow-up treatment.
“I got into dermatology during medical school,” says Dr. Arballo. “I took to it immediately and wanted to learn as much as I could about leather. I think some of my inspiration may have come from dealing with multiple skin challenges. I wanted to help people suffering from skin conditions to regain their health and self-confidence. It’s not every specialty where you can see the difference you make in people’s lives and that makes dermatology very special.”
It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to be vigilant about checking your skin and getting regular check-ups by a dermatologist. The sooner we can diagnose and treat the cancer, not only will the cancer be prevented from spreading, but the areas of scar tissue will also be smaller.
“Early detection of skin cancer is key to improving morbidity and mortality and to a good cosmetic outcome with treatment,” says Dr. Arballo. “A delay in diagnosing skin cancer can allow the cancer to spread to other parts of the body and can even lead to death. Also, the larger a skin cancer is, the more difficult it is to remove without causing significant wounding and scarring. Most skin cancers can be treated directly in the dermatology clinic.”
As well as constant vigilance with regular self-examination of your skin, checking your partner’s inconspicuous areas and going in for regular full-body scans and SPOT checks if a lesion looks suspicious, prevention is vital. The Mayo Clinic provides these specific skin cancer prevention techniques that everyone should follow:
- Try to stay out of the sun during peak UV hours from 10am to 4pm, even on cloudy days.
- Always use sunscreen on exposed skin with at least SPF 30.
- Reapply your sunscreen regularly after two hours of use, or more often if you sweat or swim.
- Wear sun-protective clothing with UPF 50 or higher.
- Wear a wide-brimmed sun hat with UPF 50 or higher.
- Avoid tanning beds.
- Check your skin regularly and if you see changes or ABCDEs, schedule an appointment at Apex Dermatology right away for a spot check.
The bottom line is this: Always have a dermatologist evaluate any worrisome or unusual skin lesions as soon as you notice them, and get a full-body check every year. If you see a spot that concerns you, schedule a “On-site inspection“. We can usually get you in the same day or within 24 hours of your call at (833) 279-SKIN. If you haven’t had your regularfull body screeningbut this yearschedule one today.
Dr. Arballo urges patients not to be afraid to schedule that appointment and not wait: “Please never hesitate to seek a professional evaluation of a suspicious skin lesion. As a dermatologist, we look at the skin all day, every day, and we see thousands of skin lesions every year,” he explains. “If we can’t immediately identify your skin lesion by looking at it, we can do a biopsy to make the diagnosis and put your mind at ease. Hopefully we can provide reassurance that it’s benign, but if it’s skin cancer, it’s always best to catch it and treat it as soon as possible.”
Remember, when skin cancer is diagnosed early, the chances of survival are excellent! Don’t be afraid to call us right away at (833) 279-SKIN for a same day SPOT check appointment
Our passion is to help our patients stay confident, healthy and skin cancer free.
