Dermatologists and Skin Cancer
If you have an odd looking spot on your body that you are worried about, see your dermatologist as soon as possible. It could be skin cancer.
Dermatologists are more likely to find early stage skin cancer than other doctors and thus save more lives. It may be that dermatologists are more skilled at finding small tumors or less likely to brush them off as nothing. Basal cell cancers aren’t always harmless. They are easy to remove but 5 to 10% can be resistant to treatment. Some basal cell cancers can be aggressive and damage skin around them, even invading tissue and bone. If you see a suspicious growth see a doctor right away, if possible a dermatologist.
Drink your caffeinated coffee every day. For every cup you drink, there’s a 5% drop in your odds of developing skin cancer, researchers recently reported. “It could be the antioxidants help protect the shin and it may be that people who drink coffee tend to stay inside more.” said Earnest L. Abel, Ph.D., professor of OB-GYN at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
- Basal Cell appears as a small, domed bump that’s pearly-white or pink colored. It can look like a small pimple or small sore; it may heal and come back.
- Melanoma appears as a mole which is asymmetrical; one half of the mole doesn’t match the other half. It is larger than a pencil eraser. The color isn’t the same all over. It changes in size and shape, or has begun to itch, bleed, or crust over.
- Squamous cell appears as a crusty or scaly patch with a red inflamed base. It is most common on sun exposed areas but can appear in the mouth, on the genitals or anywhere on the body.
There is no rating for how sunscreen stops UVA rays which penetrates deeper into the base layer of skin and can cause dangerous cell changes. The FDA has proposed a new sunscreen rule that would include label revisions for UVA. In the meantime choose a broad spectrum sunscreen which offers greater UVA (as well as UVB) protection. At present sunscreen labels do tell you how effective the product blocks UVB.
If you have any odd looking spot or any area of skin that does not look just right, see your dermatologist as soon as possible.
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RJ Chamberlain | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Great advice Ruby
lanne | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Great advise . I am often outdoors from sun up till sun down and am ashamed to say that I rarely if even use sunscreen. I am going to print this article and tack it to the door as a reminder. Thanks Ruby.
PR Mace | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Ruby,
Great article with good advice. Living in Florida my husband and I swim alot. We always use a 50 or above sunscreen. Don’t forget all you cute guys that are bald like my husband. Use you sunscreen and wear a hat. Baseball caps are so sexy.
nobert soloria bermosa | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
thanks for this article Ruby, very informative
Moses Ingram | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Good article and very good advice.
deepbluesea | Jun 23, 2008 | Reply
Great article and thanks for the tips! Very informative.
Allen Bernard Pilapil | Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
This is very useful Ruby, Thanks
Rookie Expert | Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Nice helpful writeup.
Anne Lyken-Garner | Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
A really informative one here Ruby. Looks like a lot of research involved as well.
Ruby Hawk | Jun 24, 2008 | Reply
Thank you all for your comments. Skin care is so important and often we don’t take the care we should. I hope you all use your sun block, see your dermotologist, and have a wonderful summer.
Amos | Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
This is good advise for anybody who is in the sun as much as I am. Don’t ignore that bump that looks funny. It can be cancer.
C A Johnson | Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the advice. These things are good to know.
Hannah | Jun 25, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for this useful advise.
Allen Bernard Pilapil | Jun 26, 2008 | Reply
Thanks this is very useful god bless!
tracy sardelli | Jun 27, 2008 | Reply
Very useful info, thank you for sharing.
Harold Self | Jun 27, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the advise about the doctors. It’s good to know what to do if I have a problem.
Sun Meilan | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
I know someone who had the third type of skin cancer you mention. We all thought it was odd that it never went away, but didn’t realise it was skin cancer until someone finally persuaded him to go to a doctors. Luckily, they managed to catch it just in time.
Ruby Hawk | Jun 28, 2008 | Reply
Sun, He was a lucky man that someone insisted he see a doctor. These cancers are sometimes fatal. If left long enough they can sometimes go into the bone. Thanks for your comments everyone.
Lucy Lockett | Jun 30, 2008 | Reply
Great article and people are becoming more sunsafe these days.
Trish | Sep 17, 2008 | Reply
The sun is more dangerous every day as we fill our atmoshpere with chemicals and burn the ozone away. We have to put a stop to it.