Important, preventative medical exams like a skin cancer screening?
Not so much, Im ashamed to say.
Skin exams really should begin as youre entering adulthood.
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Unlike other organs, you dont have to do a PET scan or a CT scan to see it.
Its visible, its right there and its a no brainer, Dr. Markowitz says.
People should just get screened.
If you need help finding a medical derm, ask your general practitioner for a referral.
Its better, she believes, to seek out a specialist.
Were looking for anything that doesnt belong, says Dr. Markowitz.
If an area appears suspect, one of a few things can happen during the appointment.
Newer technology now offers an alternative non-cutting option.
With dermoscopy, the deepest you’re free to go is about 100 micrometers.
Dr. Markowitz combines short term monitoring with use of a smart sticker.
It gets sent to a lab and then we get a scan report.
Negative smart sticker results are about 99 percent accurate.
For 100 percent certainty, shell stay on top of it with short-term follow-ups.
The advantage of RCM and short-term monitoring, says Dr. Markowitz, is avoiding unnecessary incisions.
You dont want to get surgery for something benign that maybe could have been left alone.
So, well use non-invasive methods first.
The whole thing took under 15 minutes.
In other words, nothing abnormal.
Keep an eye on any unusual changes, I was told, and come back in a year.
Depending on your family history and past sun exposure, your doctor may suggest more frequent visits.
If you are immunocompromised or have a lot of moles it’s also advised to get checked sooner.
Why are self-exams so important?
Between dermatologist appointments, self-exams go a long way toward prevention.
Its okay to err on the side of caution.
It has since been removed, but left an indentation that she smoothed out with filler.
The crucial part is early detection before melanoma has a chance to spread.
Melanoma is one of the most common cancers in people younger than 30, especially women."
Thats why its all the more important to see a board-certified dermatologist for laser treatments and peels.
Going forward, it’s something Ill repeat year after year after another trip around the sun.
Wearing SPF 30, of course.
Read more about sun protection:
Watch the history of sun care:
