Summer in Central Texas is a great
time to get out and enjoy all of the outdoor activities that the
area has to offer. But while basking or playing in the summer
sun can be enticing, it can also lead to a heightened risk of
skin cancer. The facts can be startling: skin cancer is the most
common of all cancers and accounts for half of all cancer in the
United States.
Tans are never healthy. “There are no safe UV rays,”
explains
Vimal George, M.D., a family practitioner with The
Austin Diagnostic Clinic Round Rock. “People often think they
are protecting their skin by getting a gradual, baseline tan
from a tanning salon or by lying out by the pool. This, however,
isn’t true. Any tan is a sign that the skin is being damaged.”
The American Cancer Society states
both types of UV rays from the sun—UVA and UVB—can contribute to
skin cancer. |
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“I tell patients that the
best skin protection is regularly wearing a hat and always
applying a good sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more under
protective clothing,” says Dr. George.
Types of skin cancer
There are two main types of skin cancers—melanomas and
non-melanomas. Both commonly start with a mole or other
abnormality of the skin. Non-melanomas – known as squamous cell
or basal cell skin cancer – are the most common type of skin
cancer. They rarely spread elsewhere in the body and are not
likely to be fatal, but they can cause scarring. Melanoma,
however, is a more serious form of cancer.
“Melanoma can be very curable
in its first stages,” explains Dr. George. “But too often people
let it go unnoticed and untreated for too long. Once melanoma is
established, it can spread to other parts of the body. That’s
when it can become deadly.”
In the United States, cases of malignant melanoma – the most
dangerous form of skin cancer – have doubled in the past 30
years.
“It can be difficult for people
to identify which moles, freckles or discolorations are cancer
and which are harmless,” says Dr. George. “So it’s important to
check your skin often—preferably once a month—and note any
changes in your skin. It’s also a good idea to see your doctor
regularly to have your skin examined as well. Your doctor can
give you a better idea of what to look for and when it’s
important to seek treatment.”
What to look for
We all have moles and other skin blemishes. But what separates
harmless moles from cancer? The answer is: change. Changes in
size, shape or color of a mole or the appearance of a new spot
can be a sign of something serious.
For melanoma, the American
Cancer Society recommends using the “ABCDE rule” to identify
spots that should be checked out by a doctor. Notify your doctor
about any spots that match the following description:
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A is for ASYMMETRY: The shape of one half of a mole
or birthmark does not match the other. |
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B is for BORDER: The edges are irregular, ragged,
notched or blurred. |
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C is for COLOR: The color is not the same all over
and may include shades of brown,
black or tan and sometimes with patches of red, white, gray
or blue. |
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D is for DIAMETER: The spot is larger than 6
millimeters across (about ¼ inch—the size of a
pencil eraser) or is growing larger.
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E is for EVOLVING: The spot is changing shape, color
or size or a new mole or spot appears
in a new area of the skin. |
“Limiting your time in the sun
and protecting yourself from the dangers of UV rays can keep
your skin healthy and glowing,” says Dr. George. “And by
recognizing changes in your skin, you can help prevent sunny
days from becoming too much of a good thing.
The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic (ADC) is a multi-specialty clinic with
physicians representing
24 medical specialties at six locations. Dr. George practices at
the ADC Round Rock clinic
located at 1499B Old Settlers Blvd.
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