Shine a Light on Your Skin with a Skin Exam

This month, Price Skin Care Clinic joins the Skin Cancer Foundation for ‘Skin Cancer Awareness Month’ with reminders on how you can protect your skin and keep it healthy. This is the third article in the series.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.  That makes skin cancer the most common type of cancer in the United States.

“If found early, most skins cancers are responsive to treatment,” said Richard Price, MD, of Price Skin Care Clinic in Ridgeland, MS. “But if skin cancer spreads to other organs, it can be life-threatening. That’s why we encourage patients to perform monthly self-exams and to see us at least once a year for a professional skin exam.”

In addition to the early detection of skin cancer, regular skin exams enable physicians to monitor for other skin conditions and disorders before they progress, as well as to advise on healthy skin care maintenance.

Look for Changes
When it comes to skin cancer detection, regular skin exams can save your life.

By actively examining your skin once a month – say, on the first day of each month – you can get to know your skin’s normal appearance enabling you to spot any noticeable changes that might indicate a problem.

Having a skin doctor perform an annual exam gives a professional an opportunity to monitor your skin and find anything you might have missed such as changing moles or other skin lesions.

Regular exams are how most skin cancers are caught early. Don’t ignore them.

Monitor for Other Conditions
Annual skin exams can also help your physician spot other skin conditions and disorders including eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, and fungal infections.

An early diagnosis can prevent these conditions from progressing and getting worse.  If other skin conditions or disorders are found, your physician can schedule a follow-up appointment for treatment that can help control and manage symptoms.

Skin Care Maintenance
During your annual skin exam, your doctor or healthcare provider can recommend an appropriate sunscreen as well as prescribe topical vitamin C for optimal skin health.

If needed, an educational visit can be scheduled to advise on healthy skincare practices and to teach you how to perform regular skin self-exams.

Conclusion
Skin cancer is the one cancer you can see before it becomes life-threatening.

When you conduct monthly skin self-exams and see your physician for an annual professional screening, you are not only protecting your skin against cancer, but you are promoting the overall health of your skin.

If you have questions about your skin health or would like to schedule your annual skin screen exam, give us a call at: 601.992.3996.