Skin Care

Shining a Light on Skin Cancer
(Berkeley Wellness)
Skin cancer is very common, and some types can be deadly. But discovered early, almost all skin cancers can be treated and cured. Here’s what you need to know.

A regular skin check by your family doctor or a dermatologist 
is particularly important if you are at high risk—for instance, if you have had a lot of sunburns and sun exposure over the years (including at tanning salons), have a lot of moles, have had actinic keratoses (see below), or a family history of skin cancer. Having a dark complexion does not protect you from skin cancer.

It’s good policy to do a self-exam on a regular basis. Examine your body, front and back, in bright light using a hand mirror and full-length mirror. Inspect your scalp, behind your ears, and your genitals. Don’t forget your legs, feet, and toes. It may help to get someone to take photos of your back periodically, so you can compare them and check for changes.

What are you looking for? A mole that’s changing shape, color, 
or size, especially one with an irregular border; an “ugly duckling” mole that looks different from the others; any kind of skin lesion, especially a rough or scaly patch; a sore spot that bleeds or doesn’t heal; or anything that wasn’t there before. If you see anything suspicious on your skin, get medical advice.

Some terms to know:

• Actinic keratoses: Precancerous skin lesions that result from long-term sun exposure. They can be red or pink and are usually rough and scaly. A dermatologist can remove them in the office or prescribe a topical medication to treat them at home. If you get these lesions, take them as a reminder to stay out of the sun.

• Basal cell carcinoma: Most common and least dangerous skin cancer. It develops slowly and may show up as a red bump that turns into a sore and scabs over. It is easily removed, similar to actinic keratoses.

• Squamous cell carcinoma: Almost as common as basal cell carcinoma, but more dangerous because it can spread. Actinic keratoses can be the forerunner.

• Melanoma: Less common but most dangerous type of skin cancer. It may start from an existing mole or show up as a new, dark skin patch. It may develop from blistering sunburns early in life, but may also appear on parts of the body seldom or never exposed to the sun, such as buttocks, armpits, or soles of feet. Melanoma is treatable and curable if diagnosed early.