Because our skin is constantly changing, we can develop moles, pre-cancers or encounter acne, eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea breakouts at any time. Fortunately, we treat all skin conditions at all ages using pharmaceuticals, lasers, surgery or a combination of these methods to alleviate or eliminate most of your dermatological concerns.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT CANCER?
Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, including melanoma. You can have fun in the sun and decrease your risk of skin cancer. Here's how you can prevent skin cancer:
- Seek shade when appropriate. Remember that the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If your shadow appears to be shorter than you are, seek shade.
- Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, where possible.
- Generously apply a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more to all exposed skin. "Broad-spectrum" provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Reapply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
- Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand because they reflect and intensify the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn.
- Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look tan, consider using a self-tanning product or spray, but continue to use sunscreen with it.
Souce: American Cancer Society
ROSACEA
Rosacea is a common disorder that mainly affects skin on the face. It causes redness on the nose, chin, cheeks, and forehead. Over time, the redness can become more intense, taking on a ruddy appearance. Blood vessels may become visible.
Source: WebMD.com
ACNE
Acne not only affects teenagers, but also men and woman at any age. It can be caused by hormones, over stimulated sebaceous glands, clogged hair follicles, infection or genetic disposition. Treatment includes topical and oral medications, peels, facials, microdermabrasion and/or lasers.
Source:WebMD.com
WARTS
Molluscum contagiosum is viral skin infection that causes either single or multiple raised, pearl-like bumps (papules) on the skin. It is a chronic infection and lesions may persist from a few months to a few years. However, most cases resolve in six to nine months. The virus is contagious through direct contact and is more common in children. Molluscum contagiosum can spread on a single individual through scratching and rubbing.
Source: American Academy Dermatology
ACTINIC KERATOSIS
Actinic keratosis (AK) also known as solar keratosis, is a precancerous lesion of the epidermis (outer layer of skin) that is caused by long-term exposure to sunlight. Chronic sunlight exposure alters the keratinocytes (cells that make up the majority of the epidermis) and causes areas of your skin to become scaly, rough, discolored and sometimes tender to the touch. AK are most commonly found on sun-exposed areas such as the face, lips, ears, neck, scalp, forearms and backs of hands.
Source: American Academy Dermatology
PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition caused by an overactive immune system. Symptoms include flaking, inflammation, and thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin. Psoriasis treatments include steroid creams, occlusion, light therapy and oral medications, such as biologics.
Source: WebMD.com
MOLES
Moles are benign skin growths that are commonly black or brown. The can occur in children and may continue to appear throughout a person's life. They also often change in color or shape. There are several types of moles; some more prone to skin cancer than others. Get any noticeable changes to a mole checked by a dermatologist to be sure skin cancer has not developed.
Source: WebMD.com
ECZEMA
Eczema is aterm for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated. The most common type of eczema is known as atopic dermatitis, or atopic eczema. Atopic refers to a group of diseases with an often inherited tendency to develop other allergic conditions, such as asthma and hay fever.
Source: American Academy Dermatology
CELLULITIS
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the deepest layers of your skin. It is usually caused by group A streptococcus, the same bacterium that leads to strep throat. But it may also be due to Staphylococcus aureus, such as MRSA, and other types of bacteria. Symptoms of cellulitis include a red, swollen, and painful lump or area on your skin. It most often affects the legs, arms, or face, but can develop anywhere on the body. If the infection spreads throughout your body, you may feel tired and have chills. Cellulitis can be a serious condition.
Source: WebMD.com
SKIN CANCERS
Skin cancer is the most common form of human cancers, affecting more than one million Americans every year. Skin cancers are generally curable if caught early. The vast majority of skin cancers are composed of three different types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common and least aggressive type of skin cancer. It often appears as a shiny or translucent pimple-like bump, which can develop into a non-healing sore and be locally destructive to surrounding tissue, usually on the face, scalp and trunk.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cells are found in the upper layer (the surface) of the epidermis. They look like fish scales under a microscope and present as a crusted or scaly patch of skin with an inflamed, red base. They are often tender to the touch.
Squamous cell carcinoma can develop anywhere, including inside the mouth and on the genitalia. It most frequently appears on the scalp, face, ears and back of hands. Squamous cell carcinoma tends to develop among fair-skinned, middle-aged and elderly people who have a history of sun exposure. In some cases, it evolves from actinic keratoses, dry scaly lesions that can be flesh-colored, reddish-brown or yellow black, and which appear on skin that is rough or leathery. Actinic keratoses spots are considered to be precancerous.
Like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma is diagnosed via a biopsy — either excisional, where the entire tumor is removed along with some of the surrounding tissue, or incisional, where only a part of the tumor is removed (used primarily for large lesions).
Melanoma
Melanoma is a very serious form of skin cancer that accounts for most skin cancer-related deaths. They can appear anywhere on the body and are detected when a spot changes in color, shape or size rapidly (within several months). Melanoma affects all age groups, and can be cured and treated in its early stages.
Most melanomas are caused by overexposure to the sun beginning in childhood. This cancer also runs in families. Melanoma is diagnosed via a biopsy. Treatments include surgical removal, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
Source: WebMD.com
