Here are some facts to help you both prevent and caught melanoma early on.
With everyone gearing up for the warm summer months, it’s an important time to talk about protecting against skin cancer. After all, skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and it has the ability to become deadly if not caught early on. While wearing sunscreen daily and seeking shade can provide you with protection against the sun’s damaging rays, here are some facts about melanoma that our Prescott, AZ, dermatologist Dr. Richard Cirelli wants you to know.
You Can Prevent Melanoma
The majority of skin cancer cases are due to exposure to UV light, whether from the sun or tanning bed. The good news is that you can greatly reduce your chances of developing skin cancer just by following these habits,
- Avoid going out in the sun between the hours of 10 am-3 pm, when the sun’s rays are strongest
- Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of at least 30
- Reapply sunscreen after sweating, swimming or toweling off; otherwise, reapply every two hours
- Wear sunscreen all year long, even on rainy or snowy days
- Avoid getting burned and do not use tanning beds (no tan is healthy or safe for your skin)
- Wear sun-protective clothing including hats and sunglasses when going outside
- Always seek the shade, whenever possible
Melanoma Can Vary Greatly in Appearance
When people think about melanoma they often remember the ABCDE rule when it comes to looking for signs of a cancerous growth. The ABCDE rule stands for,
- Asymmetry
- Borders
- Color
- Diameter
- Evolving
However, the melanoma cases that our team has seen here in Prescott, AZ, does vary from person to person. So while the ABCDE rule is useful and can save lives, remember that these aren’t the only features to look for. Sometimes you’ll notice that the texture of a growth or mole may change. The mole may rapidly change size, shape or color, or it may ooze, bleed or crust. Some growths may look like an indentation in the skin or resemble a scar. Changes of any kind warrant seeing a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Melanoma is Usually Treated with Surgery
If detected early on, melanoma is often successfully treated with surgery. The most common type of surgery performed on melanoma is wide margin excision surgery. More advanced stages of melanoma may require both surgery and another treatment such as targeted therapy or immunotherapy.
If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, know that you are in good hands with Dr. Cirelli. He and his team specialize in skin cancer and melanoma screenings and treatment here in the Prescott, AZ, area. Dr. Cirelli also does all procedures, treatments and screenings himself. If you are looking for a dermatologist who can address your melanoma concerns here in Prescott and Prescott Valley, Arizona, please call Sunwest Dermatology and Skin Cancer Treatment Center at (928) 445-7546. SunWest Dermatology takes most insurances and we are a Medicare Preferred Provider.