Schedule Your Skin Cancer Screening For Melanoma Awareness Month

Did you know that one in five people in the United States will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their life? Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, but it can be detected early by doing self-examinations and getting skin cancer screenings in Sarasota, FL. 

How To Reduce Your Risk Of Skin Cancer

While you usually can’t prevent yourself from getting skin cancer, you can reduce your risk exponentially by limiting sun exposure to the skin, staying indoors from 10 am to 4 pm, wearing a hat, wearing long sleeves and pants, applying and reapplying sunscreen with at least 15 SPF every two hours or after swimming, and avoid indoor tanning at all costs. 

How To Diagnose Skin Cancer

Getting skin cancer detected early is crucial as it is a fast-growing form of cancer. One way you can be diagnosed early is to perform self-checks by following the ABCDE method to look for any new or changing growths on your body. If you spot a mole, use these guidelines to determine if it could be cancerous: 

• A is for asymmetry, meaning the mole has an uneven shape or pattern.
• B is for borders when the outer edges are irregular.
• C is for color when a mole appears dark black or has many colors.
• D is for diameter; the mole will be more than 6 mm in size.
• E is for evolving; the growth will change in size, shape, and/or color. 

If you find a growth that falls in one of the ABCDE categories or you are unsure, our providers at SkinSmart Dermatology can screen you to determine if a growth is cancerous or benign. 

Schedule Your Skin Cancer Screening Today!

Because skin cancer is known to spread rapidly to other parts of your body, it’s important that you get a skin cancer screening to make sure you don’t have any cancerous moles. Call SkinSmart Dermatology in Sarasota, FL, at 941-308-7546 to set up your evaluation today. This dermatology practice is dedicated to giving the most advanced and compassionate medical care. The certified and highly experienced practitioners are always here to help guide you through your medical journey!