When should my child be seen for a full body skin exam?
There is no hard and fast rule for this question. At Florida Skin Center, we recommend routine skin exams (at least yearly) regularly for everyone, including pediatric patients! Monthly skin exams at home should be performed as well. While melanoma is less common in children than in adults, that does not mean it does not occur. The incidence of melanoma in children 11-19 years of age has increased almost 3% per year from 1973-2001. Melanoma accounts for approximately 7% of all cancers diagnosed in individuals 15-19 years of age, and accounts for up to 3% of all pediatric cancers. The treatment of childhood melanoma is often delayed due to misdiagnosis, which happens up to 40% of the time. If you or your pediatrician notices a questionable mole on your child, have a dermatologist examine the mole - we have special tools that help us determine if a mole is suspicious and warrants testing. Even if a mole does not warrant testing at the time of the exam, close followup is recommended, to monitor for changes.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, but it is the most preventable. Most skin cancers form due to excess sun exposure when we were young. Genetics plays a role as well. Remember to minimize sun exposure and wear daily sunscreen of at least SPF 30.
When should my child's skin condition be evaluated by a dermatologist?
Most pediatricians recognize common skin conditions, such as eczema, seborrhea, exanthems (rashes caused by viral infections), and can initiate treatment for your child. However, if the skin condition is not improving or resolving, most pediatricians will refer out to a dermatologist. A skin biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis and to better tailor the treatment. If the skin condition is something not commonly seen, most pediatricians will refer out to a dermatologist as well. When in doubt, have a specialist look at it!
Showing posts with label skin cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skin cancer. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
The Ideal Skin Cancer Screening
Why should we have skin cancer screenings?
The statistics for skin cancer are daunting, and speak to the importance of regular skin cancer screenings. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Melanoma rates in the United States have doubled in the past 20 years. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, has a good prognosis if detected early. However, this type of skin cancer can spread quickly to other parts of the body, making it deadly. Quite often, there are no symptoms, and patients are not even aware of the cancerous growth until it is too late. The 5-year survival rate for melanoma that has been detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 98%. However, when melanoma is detected in the later stages, the prognosis can be grim. The 5-year survival rate for regional and distant stage melanomas drops to 63% and 17%, respectively. On average, one American dies from melanoma every hour. The most common skin cancers, basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, are highly curable if detected early. These types of skin cancers are usually not life-threatening, but can invade deeper tissues and cause scarring.
If you have no personal or family history of skin cancer, no personal history of dysplastic nevi (abnormal moles) or actinic keratoses (pre-cancers), a skin cancer screening by a qualified dermatology medical professional is recommended yearly. If you have a history of any of the above, a skin cancer screening is recommended more frequently - at least every 6 months. Self-skin-checks at home are recommended monthly, regardless. You should also have an eye exam yearly by an ophthalmologist, as melanoma can also occur in the eye.
Preparing for your skin cancer screening
Do your self-skin-check at home and make note of any new or changing moles, growths, or marks. Make sure to point these out to your healthcare provider at the visit.
Wear clothing that is easy to remove. Try not to wear makeup or anything that can make it more difficult to evaluate the skin. Remove nail polish from the fingernails and toenails. Melanoma can occur under the nails, so these areas should not be overlooked.
The skin cancer screening
At the office, you will be given a gown and asked to undress. Ideally, all clothing, including underwear, should be removed, as well as shoes, makeup and jewelry. All parts of the body will be examined, from head to toe. Your healthcare provider will most likely use a dermascope to aid in examining lesions that need special attention. The dermascope has a magnifying lens and light so that your provider can see pigment patterns and characteristics of the lesion that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Some characteristics of moles that your provider will be evaluating can be summarized in the ABCDEs of melanoma, which is also a good guideline for your self-skin-exams at home.
A A is for asymmetry - if one half of the mole does not match the other half.
B B is for borders - if the border is irregular.
C C is for color - if the color is not uniform, or if the color is very dark.
D D is for diameter - if the size of the lesion is greater than 6mm (pencil eraser).
E E is for evolution - if the lesion is changing, especially suddenly.
Other types of lesions that your healthcare provider will be looking for include red or pink growths or patches that can be scaly or bleeding. A growth or patch that started off looking like a pimple or injury but has not healed in the normal expected time is worth testing, to rule out basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Sun protection and sun avoidance can help minimize your risk of skin cancers. It is important to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 daily, on sun-exposed areas. It is also important to reapply sunscreen every 1-2 hours. Regular skin cancer screenings by a trained dermatology provider are important to ensure that skin cancers are not overlooked and are treated in a timely fashion should they arise.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Please Join us for the 2nd Annual Miles for Melanoma Walk/5k Run May 14, 2016
Our 2nd Annual Miles for Melanoma Walk/5k Run is quickly approaching, and will be held on May 14, 2016 at Sanibel Outlets. Registration is between 7-8AM, and walk/race begins at 8AM. For early registration or if you cannot join us , but would like to donate to a great cause you can visit :
http://join.melanoma.org/site/TR?fr_id=1162&pg=entry
All proceeds go to the Melanoma Research Foundation for education, advocacy and research. By making a donation today, you can make a difference in the fight against melanoma.
Melanoma: What You Need to Know
Melanoma is a skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, or the cells in our skin that produce the pigment that gives us our color. A melanoma can be any color including: brown, black, grey, red , blue , or any mixture of these colors. Melanoma can start as a new spot on the skin, or it can grow within a mole or skin lesion that was already present.
The incidence of melanoma is on the rise, and it is important to become educated about melanoma because if diagnosed early it has a higher survival rate. The American Cancer Society estimates on average, 41200 people are diagnosed yearly with melanoma skin cancers in Florida. Eighteen melanomas were diagnosed in 2015, here at Florida Skin Center by our providers.
There are different risk factors for developing a melanoma, some of which can be controlled and others that cannot. Fair skinned individuals and those who burn more easily are at an increased risk. Also are individuals with red or blonde hair and/or blue or green eyes. Someone who has many moles on their body or has had a dysplastic nevus or changing mole is too at an increased risk for developing a melanoma. A family history of melanoma in one or more first degree relative such as a parent, brother, sister, or child, increases a person’s risk. In fact, approximately 10% of those diagnosed with a melanoma, have a family history. Someone who has personally had a melanoma has approximately a 5 percent chance of developing another. A weakened immune system is another factor that may increase person’s chances of developing a melanoma skin cancer.
Overall, men have a higher incidence of developing melanoma. The average age melanoma is diagnosed is 61, although we are starting to see melanomas grow in the younger populations. In fact melanoma is the most common cancer in young adults aged 25-59 years old. Women are more likely to develop this diagnosis before age 40, whereas men are more likely to develop melanoma after the age of 40.
One of the preventable risk factors is UV or ultraviolet light exposure. About 86 percent of melanomas can be attributed to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) light can damage the DNA of the cells, which can cause melanoma. Most UV light is from sun exposure, but can also come from tanning beds. A person’s risk for developing melanoma doubles if they have had one or more blistering sunburns, or 5 or more sunburns from any UV source.
When found early, melanoma is highly curable. When detected early, the overall 5-year survival rate is approximately 98 percent in the US. Melanomas become more of a concern when they spread to regional lymph nodes or other organs. This is why early detection is so crucial.
As the old quote goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Although there are some risk factors that can’t be changed, there are some precautions that can be taken to reduce your risk of developing a melanoma.
• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (protects against UVA and UVB rays.) Use a sunscreen with a SPF or sun protective factor of at least 30. Reapply approximately 1oz of sunscreen every 2 hours.
• Limit sun exposure during hours when the UV rays are the strongest, between 10AM and 4 PM
• Wear protective clothing, sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat.
• Avoid tanning beds
• Have an annual skin exam performed by a dermatologist.
• Do self-skin exams, using the ABCDE's every month, and look for new or changing moles.
http://join.melanoma.org/site/TR?fr_id=1162&pg=entry
All proceeds go to the Melanoma Research Foundation for education, advocacy and research. By making a donation today, you can make a difference in the fight against melanoma.
Melanoma: What You Need to Know
Melanoma is a skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, or the cells in our skin that produce the pigment that gives us our color. A melanoma can be any color including: brown, black, grey, red , blue , or any mixture of these colors. Melanoma can start as a new spot on the skin, or it can grow within a mole or skin lesion that was already present.
The incidence of melanoma is on the rise, and it is important to become educated about melanoma because if diagnosed early it has a higher survival rate. The American Cancer Society estimates on average, 41200 people are diagnosed yearly with melanoma skin cancers in Florida. Eighteen melanomas were diagnosed in 2015, here at Florida Skin Center by our providers.
There are different risk factors for developing a melanoma, some of which can be controlled and others that cannot. Fair skinned individuals and those who burn more easily are at an increased risk. Also are individuals with red or blonde hair and/or blue or green eyes. Someone who has many moles on their body or has had a dysplastic nevus or changing mole is too at an increased risk for developing a melanoma. A family history of melanoma in one or more first degree relative such as a parent, brother, sister, or child, increases a person’s risk. In fact, approximately 10% of those diagnosed with a melanoma, have a family history. Someone who has personally had a melanoma has approximately a 5 percent chance of developing another. A weakened immune system is another factor that may increase person’s chances of developing a melanoma skin cancer.
Overall, men have a higher incidence of developing melanoma. The average age melanoma is diagnosed is 61, although we are starting to see melanomas grow in the younger populations. In fact melanoma is the most common cancer in young adults aged 25-59 years old. Women are more likely to develop this diagnosis before age 40, whereas men are more likely to develop melanoma after the age of 40.
One of the preventable risk factors is UV or ultraviolet light exposure. About 86 percent of melanomas can be attributed to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) light can damage the DNA of the cells, which can cause melanoma. Most UV light is from sun exposure, but can also come from tanning beds. A person’s risk for developing melanoma doubles if they have had one or more blistering sunburns, or 5 or more sunburns from any UV source.
When found early, melanoma is highly curable. When detected early, the overall 5-year survival rate is approximately 98 percent in the US. Melanomas become more of a concern when they spread to regional lymph nodes or other organs. This is why early detection is so crucial.
As the old quote goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Although there are some risk factors that can’t be changed, there are some precautions that can be taken to reduce your risk of developing a melanoma.
• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (protects against UVA and UVB rays.) Use a sunscreen with a SPF or sun protective factor of at least 30. Reapply approximately 1oz of sunscreen every 2 hours.
• Limit sun exposure during hours when the UV rays are the strongest, between 10AM and 4 PM
• Wear protective clothing, sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat.
• Avoid tanning beds
• Have an annual skin exam performed by a dermatologist.
• Do self-skin exams, using the ABCDE's every month, and look for new or changing moles.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Hidden Risks of Indoor Tanning
Some mistakenly believe that indoor tanning is safer than the UV rays generated by the sun. This is a myth, and indoor tanning places a person at a substantial risk of developing a skin cancer. Tanning booths use both UVA and UVB rays. Both UVA and UVB rays damage skin cells by mutating genes that may possibly lead to a skin cancer. UVA rays are also responsible for skin aging and causes wrinkles and volume loss. UVB rays are responsible for causing sunburns. Indoor tanning increases a person’s risk of developing a melanoma when used before the age of 35. The risk increases by 1.8% with each additional visit to an indoor tanning booth.
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