Skin cancer is the great equalizer. People of all races, skin types, complexions, and ages are fair game and subject to the damaging effects of UV exposure. In fact, sun damage is a primary cause of skin aging and an integral risk factor for skin cancer.
The two most common categories of skin cancer are melanoma and non-melanoma. The two prevalent types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), both of which fall under the non-melanoma category. Melanoma is the third most common type and considered more deadly, and yet less diagnosed.
Non-melanoma skin cancers can present as a scaly pink patch or bump that doesn’t resolve over time, or as a spot in the skin that bleeds spontaneously or itches and hurts, and could be raised or flat.
“All types of skin cancers can spread to lymph nodes if neglected,” explains Tanya Reddick Rodgers, M.D., at Skin Specialists of Allen.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that adults (ages 18+) should receive a skin exam from a dermatologist annually. In the office, what a dermatologist looks for are pigmented lesions that exhibit the following “ABCDE” characteristics:
● Asymmetry (when one half doesn’t look like the other half)
● Border (irregularity – it may not be a perfect circle/oval, or it may have a “tail” poking out of it)
● Color (spots that contain colors in it – for example, uneven shades of brown, or brown with a splotch of red or blue)
● Diameter (a spot that’s greater than 6mm in diameter, like the size of a pencil eraser)
● Evolution (the spot looks different from the past or has new symptoms such as bleeding or itching)
High-risk individuals include those with a family history of skin cancer or abnormal moles; have light skin, eyes, and hair; may have experienced multiple sunburns; or/and may have experienced frequent tanning (whether via tanning beds or tanning in the natural sun). For high-risk individuals, an office visit every three to six months may be recommended. Warning signs include having pimples that are tender, itchy, contain pus, and/or last for two weeks or more.
“Sometimes moles look similar and they match on our arm and leg—but then there’s that one mole that looks like nothing else and doesn’t go away and might be growing over time,” she informs. “We use a dermatoscope using polarized light, providing us a strong magnification in order to see the pattern of blood vessels and pigments in lesions. This can help us distinguish between benign versus abnormal pigmentation. We monitor the patients for change over time by comparing the patterns from visit to visit.”
No one knows your body better than you do, and often the patient observes changes in their skin first. So in addition to performing regular self-checks, Dr. Rodgers offers the following skin health lifestyle tips:
● Use sunscreen. If you’re sensitive to sunscreen, try Heliocare (an extract from the fern plant that reduces DNA damage).
● Limit sun exposure to arms, neck, and face to 15 minutes a day (which is enough time to activate the body’s innate ability to manufacture vitamin D).
● Avoid sun exposure during peak times (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and use sun protective clothing (especially if you work outside, such as wide-brimmed hats).
● Take supplements that help to reduce the impact of the sun on skin cells, such as niacinamide, which can reduce both the inflammatory response and the risk of mutations, and/or polypodium leukotomos (sold under the brand Heliocare).
In addition to performing surgeries and offering cosmetic procedures for all ages, Dr. Rodgers is grateful for the ability to build a rapport with her patients during examinations. “My patients are overall healthy and well; they are more likely to treat disease when they can see it and thus make lifestyle choices accordingly. They are visibly aware of their skin condition, which can often be painful, itchy, or embarrassing in public. Oftentimes, this motivation is more impactful than something like having high blood pressure, which is invisible and sometimes hard to track.”
The world has made great strides in promoting skin cancer awareness through public campaigns around sunscreen use, especially as worrisome changes in our ozone layer continue.
However, according to an October 2024 study by the National Institute of Health (NIH), there has been “a steady increase in melanoma incidence rates over the past decades; several factors contribute to this rise, including increased exposure to UV radiation, improved diagnostic capabilities and heightened skin cancer awareness.” Troubling? Indeed. But fortunately, we have power over our outcomes.
If you’re suspicious about any changes in your skin, don’t wait. Reach out to Skin Specialists of Allen, 1101 Raintree Circle, Center 2 Ste. 250, Allen, TX., 972.649.6644, skinspecialistsoa.com.