Make Skin Cancer Prevention a Resolution to Keep
Become more vigilant about skin cancer prevention even during the winter and spring. While skin cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting Americans today, the good news is that it’s almost 100% curable if it’s found and treated early.
With the increase in skin cancer due to sun exposure, it is imperative skin cancer prevention is in all seasons, but especially now as the spring and summer are nearing.
Skin cancer rates in theUnited States are skyrocketing, partly due to aging baby boomers who sunned themselves unprotected for much of their youth and young people looking to emulate celebrities. Between 1992 and 2006, skin cancer rates increased 77% and are increasing at a rate of 4.2% per year.
Environment and heredity are the two leading causes of skin cancer. While individuals cannot do anything about genetics, they can control exposure to the harmful UV rays that accumulate damage over time.
Protecting your skin with sun block, staying out of the sun during peak hours, and wearing protective clothing are all preventative measures. While fair skinned people and individuals of Northern European heritage are the most susceptible to skin cancer, depletion of the ozone has increased the amount of harmful rays.
While skin cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting Americans today, the good news is that it’s almost 100% curable if it’s found and treated early. Skin cancers generally appear on very visible parts of the body and patients are often concerned about how they’ll look after treatment.
The most common skin cancers are divided into three categories: basal cell, squamous cell, and melanoma. Both basal cell and squamous cell cancers are usually very curable if caught early. Melanoma is potentially much more serious but very treatable if caught early. Melanoma, if left untreated, can grow quickly and invade nearby tissues and organs, causing damage and death.
The media promotes a sun-kissed complexion as the ideal, which increases the risk of skin cancer for the younger generation. Since any tanning (indoor or outdoor) is considered skin damage that can lead to skin cancer and is considered a primary risk factor, education has become a major focus of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Apply a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB) 30+ SPF at least 30 minutes before exposure. Reapply after 2 hours, or after sweating or swimming. Wear protective clothing, such as hats, long sleeve shirts and pants, sunglasses in the sun whenever possible. Stay in the shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun is strongest. Protect children from the sun with sunscreen, allow them to play in shade and keep them in protective clothing. It is also recommended that individuals do a head to toe skin self-exam every month, avoid tanning booths, and visit a dermatologist annually for an exam.
Everyone needs to make and keep a resolution to make skin protection a part of their everyday routine.
About SIMSYS-MoleMate
The FDA approved SIMSYS-MoleMate Skin Imaging System, a non-invasive skin cancer screening procedure, is a significant advance in the early detection of potentially life threatening moles and lesions.
Physicians have found the SIMSYS-MoleMate Siascope hand-held device easy to learn and use, and that it rapidly provides accurate images of the pigment, blood, and collagen below the mole or lesion.
Now, for the first time, physicians can more accurately evaluate suspicious moles and lesions in a non-invasive, pain-free way. Experts also believe it may reduce the need for time consuming and expensive biopsies.
For more information about SIMSYS-MoleMate, contact:
MedX Health Corp.
(905) 670-4428
(888) 363-3112
info@medxhealth.com
www.simsys-molemate.com
