Tips For Healthy and Beautiful Hair

Posted on: 21 December 2015

When most people think about taking care of their skin, their main focus is on keeping their skin free of blemishes and looking young and wrinkle-free for as long as possible. And while these aesthetic goals are certainly important, another major factor to consider is skin cancer, and melanoma in particular. Melanoma is known to be the deadliest type of skin cancer because of its tendency to spread quickly and metastasize (cause tumor growth in other areas of the body). Get to know more about preventing and detecting melanoma and other skin cancers so that you can be sure that your skin remains as healthy and cancer-free as possible now and in the future.

If You Have Not Had One, Consider A Cancer Screening

A cancer screening for skin cancer is essentially a physical exam by your doctor and is usually performed by a physician that specializes in dermatology. However, rather than checking your vitals and looking at your ears and throat, this physical exam is entirely a visual assessment of the skin covering your body.

Your doctor will essentially examine and map out your moles, skin tags, birthmarks or other skin growths to see if any of them look worrisome or suspicious. This screening process is quick and painless usually taking only 10 to 20 minutes to complete.

Pay Attention To Your Cancer Screening Results

If your dermatologist does see anything on your skin that looks troublesome, they will likely want to get you scheduled for the removal of the growth or for a partial tissue biopsy to determine whether or not the cells are cancerous. You may be hesitant to move forward with such procedures, especially if your doctor is concerned about moles or skin growths that you have had for a long time.

However, it is important to pay attention to what your doctor has to say about your skin cancer screening results. If a mole has strange margins, for example, or has variation in color, it is showing signs that something is amiss. And the more of these questionable growths you have, the more urgent removal and analysis of the tissues should be. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the health of your skin and the potential for cancer.

Protecting Your Skin From Cancer

Of course, whether your skin cancer screening shows abnormalities or not, it is always important to take steps to prevent melanoma and other skin cancers from occurring or from spreading. There are numerous steps that you can take to protect your skin from cancer.

One of the most well-known protection techniques is to avoid direct exposure to the sun, especially without sunscreen. UV rays can be damaging to the cells in the skin and can lead to the development of skin cancer. Always wear sunscreen, even in the winter, when you will be out in the sun for any period of time.

Additionally, if you are a person who loves to go to the tanning beds, you should stop immediately if you want to avoid skin cancer. Even one session on a tanning bed can dramatically increase your likelihood of developing melanoma or another form of skin cancer. If you simply must look tan, consider spray tan or self-tanning lotion alternatives that give the illusion of sun-baked skin without the negative side effects of direct sun or tanning bed exposure.

Now that you know more about skin cancer prevention, you can be sure to take the necessary steps to avoid skin cancer in your life. Of course, if you are diagnosed with melanoma or another form of skin cancer, prevention techniques will still be important during and after your cancer treatments to prevent spreading and the recurrence of skin cancer. For more information about taking care of your skin, contact a dermatology clinic such as Vail Dermatology.