Stay Healthy While Enjoying Your Summer!
JUL 19, 2024Keep yourself energized with healthy foods so you can feel your best all summer long.
Read MoreSkin safety is important year round as skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Fortunately, when caught early skin cancer is highly treatable.
The top layer of your skin is called the epidermis. There are three types of cells in the epidermis: squamous cells, basal cells, and melanocytes. Squamous and basal cell carcinomas are the most common, however, cancer of the melanocytes, or melanoma, is the most deadly. Melanoma is more likely to spread to other parts of the body, increasing its mortality. These skin cancers are caused by exposure to UV rays, which damage skin cells and leads to a sunburn. Over time, the damage accumulates, leading to skin changes, premature aging, and sometimes cancer.
Practicing good sun safety year round is the best way to prevent skin cancers. This is often overlooked in the cooler months but sun exposure and damage can occur even on a cloudy day.
Checking your skin for any suspicious moles can help find skin cancer at an early stage. The ABCDE rule can help you tell the difference between a problem and everyday imperfection.
If you have a mole or growth that meets any of these criteria or notice any changes in your skin that worry you, don’t hesitate to discuss it with your medical provider. The benefits of early diagnosis can be lifesaving!
References:
American Academy of Dermatology Association, What to Look For: ABCDEs of Melanoma .https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/find/at-risk/abcdes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Skin Cancer. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/index.htm
Fayed, Lisa. Very Well Health, The ABCDEs of Skin Cancer. https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-abcdes-of-skin-cancer-514388
Originally Published: July 2021. Revised: March 2023.
Keep yourself energized with healthy foods so you can feel your best all summer long.
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