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Melanoma Prevention: Sun Safety Tips and Skin Protection
- posted: Oct. 17, 2024
Melanoma is an aggressive and concerning form of skin cancer that can spread to other organs. Dermatologists want you to take every precaution to prevent this skin cancer from occurring. Learn how to prevent melanoma with sun safety and skin protection when visiting one of our providers at Paducah Dermatology in Paducah, Benton, Murray, KY & Martin, TN.
What is Melanoma?
Dermatologists diagnose several different forms of skin cancer, and melanoma is one of the most urgent for treatment. Melanoma is a skin growth that develops cancerous cells and can affect other parts of the body if it isn't treated promptly. It usually starts as a mole that rapidly and continuously changes in appearance, including color, size, and shape.
Melanoma Prevention Tips
The best way to prevent melanoma is to protect your skin from the sun. The ultraviolet rays that emanate from the sun are strong and can change the makeup of skin cells over time. Here are a few simple prevention tips to remember:
- Wear sunscreen, including on your face, neck, chest and back.
- Choose outdoor activities in the early morning before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m.
- Wear lightweight clothing, such as linens or cotton blends, that covers up your skin yet keeps you cool when outdoors in hot weather.
- Invest in a wide-brimmed hat that provides complete shade for your face in the sun.
Melanoma Treatments
If your dermatologist determines that you have melanoma, it should be caught and treated as early as possible. That is why it is important to do regular at-home skin checks and to schedule screening appointments with your provider. Treatments for melanoma include:
- Scraping of cancerous cells or growth (must be done by a doctor).
- Cryosurgery (freezing the cells to eliminate them) This is usually reserved for patients who would not be a good candidate for an excision
- Radiation therapy.
- Wider excisions
- Lymph node evaluation
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Chemotherapy
Keep Your Skin Protected and Safe from the Sun
If you are at a higher risk of skin cancer whether due to genetics or environment, observe these sun safety and skin protection tips regularly. Call (270) 444-8477 today to set a time for a skin checkup at Paducah Dermatology in Paducah, Benton, Murray, KY & Martin, TN and learn about melanoma treatments.
- posted: Oct. 17, 2024
Melanoma is an aggressive and concerning form of skin cancer that can spread to other organs. Dermatologists want you to take every precaution to prevent this skin cancer from occurring. Learn how to prevent melanoma with sun safety and skin protection when visiting one of our providers at Paducah Dermatology in Paducah, Benton, Murray, KY & Martin, TN.
What is Melanoma?
Dermatologists diagnose several different forms of skin cancer, and melanoma is one of the most urgent for treatment. Melanoma is a skin growth that develops cancerous cells and can affect other parts of the body if it isn't treated promptly. It usually starts as a mole that rapidly and continuously changes in appearance, including color, size, and shape.
Melanoma Prevention Tips
The best way to prevent melanoma is to protect your skin from the sun. The ultraviolet rays that emanate from the sun are strong and can change the makeup of skin cells over time. Here are a few simple prevention tips to remember:
- Wear sunscreen, including on your face, neck, chest and back.
- Choose outdoor activities in the early morning before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m.
- Wear lightweight clothing, such as linens or cotton blends, that covers up your skin yet keeps you cool when outdoors in hot weather.
- Invest in a wide-brimmed hat that provides complete shade for your face in the sun.
Melanoma Treatments
If your dermatologist determines that you have melanoma, it should be caught and treated as early as possible. That is why it is important to do regular at-home skin checks and to schedule screening appointments with your provider. Treatments for melanoma include:
- Scraping of cancerous cells or growth (must be done by a doctor).
- Cryosurgery (freezing the cells to eliminate them) This is usually reserved for patients who would not be a good candidate for an excision
- Radiation therapy.
- Wider excisions
- Lymph node evaluation
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Chemotherapy
Keep Your Skin Protected and Safe from the Sun
If you are at a higher risk of skin cancer whether due to genetics or environment, observe these sun safety and skin protection tips regularly. Call (270) 444-8477 today to set a time for a skin checkup at Paducah Dermatology in Paducah, Benton, Murray, KY & Martin, TN and learn about melanoma treatments.
