FAQs about Skin Cancer
Jul 23, 2019
Skin cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in the United States. Fortunately, it's highly treatable when detected early. At Shady Grove Dermatology, five board-certified dermatologists and their team arm patients READ MORE
FAQs about Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in the United States. Fortunately, it's highly treatable when detected early. At Shady Grove Dermatology, five board-certified dermatologists and their team arm patients with pertinent information about skin cancer. It's just part of the outstanding comprehensive care this Rockville medical practice offers.
FAQs about skin cancer
How common is skin cancer in Rockville and across the United States?
A full 20 percent of American adults will develop some type of skin cancer in their lifetimes, says the Skin Cancer Foundation.
What is the most common skin cancer?
Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequently occurring skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma ranks second. Both affect the epidermis, or top layer, of the skin.
Why is application of sun screen important?
Sun screen lotions provide excellent protection against the harmful UV rays of the sun. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 15 or higher used liberally on exposed areas of the skin, particularly during the peak sun exposure between 10 am to 4 pm. Ultraviolet radiation is a key player in skin cancer and aging.
What are skin self-examinations?
They are monthly visual inspections of your entire skin surface. Done in the privacy of your own home, self-exams look at any and all spots, freckles, and moles. You look for changes in their shape, size, borders, texture, and color. In general, your dermatologist should check any sore which does not heal in two weeks and continues to itch, bleed, or ooze. So, if something seems suspicious, get to Shady Grove Dermatology right away for expert diagnosis.
What is a biopsy?
Your physician takes a tissue sample from a suspect lesion in order to examine it for cancer cells. A biopsy also tells the doctor how advanced the disease is.
How is skin cancer treated?
Much depends on the type, location, and stage of the cancer. Surgical excision at the doctor's office is common. Cryosurgery (freezing), radiation, and drug therapies prove effective, and innovative MOHS surgery, performed at Shady Grove Dermatology, removes and analyzes lesions layer by layer, removing spots completely and sparing healthy tissue.
What's so bad about indoor tanning?
Indoor tanning exposes the skin to intense ultra-violet light, a definite cancer-causing agent, reports the US Department of Health and Human Services. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that annually, almost half a million new cases of skin cancer in the US are attributable to indoor tanning.
Learn all you can
Education about skin cancer empowers you to live a long, healthy life. Your dermatologists at Shady Grove Dermatology in Rockville, MD, excel in skin cancer care, as well as scores of other medical and aesthetic services. Call today for your skin examination at (240) 246-7417.