How your dermatologist in Clermont, FL, can diagnose and treat skin cancer

Did you know that skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer? If you spend a lot of time out in the sun, you need to know the facts about skin cancer, how to prevent it, and what to look for on your skin. Your dermatologist has the answers you need. Dr. David Allyn at Aesthetic Dermatology PA, in Clermont, FL, provides comprehensive dermatology services, including diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer.

These are some of the most frequently asked questions and answers about skin cancer:

What Are the Risk Factors for Developing Skin Cancer?

Spending a lot of time in the sun without sunscreen puts you at risk of skin cancer. Other factors that can increase your risk of skin cancer include:

• Having fair-skin
• Burning easily
• Having a family history of skin cancer

What Are the Types of Skin Cancer?

There are several different types of skin cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. These are both easily treatable if caught early. Another type of skin cancer is malignant melanoma, which can be deadly, especially if it is not caught early.

How Can Skin Cancer Be Prevented?

Fortunately, you can do a lot to protect yourself from skin cancer. Remember to:

• Wear a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 every day
• Avoid direct sun exposure from 10 AM to 4 PM, when ultraviolet rays are the most harmful
• Do a self-check of your skin regularly

What Should I Look for When I Check My Skin?

When you perform a self-check for skin cancer, you need to look for:

• Rough, scaly patches of skin
• Red, irritated patches of skin
• Large moles, over 6 millimeters in diameter
• Irregularly shaped or asymmetrical moles
• Moles with irregular, ragged borders
• Recurring moles that was previously removed

How Is Skin Cancer Treated?

Depending on the type and severity of skin cancer, treatment can include:

• Freezing cancerous tissue, known as cryosurgery
• Removing cancerous tissue, known as excision
• Removing cancerous skin layers one at a time, known as Mohs micrographic surgery

Malignant melanoma often requires additional treatment which can include chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

If you would like learn more about prevention, symptoms, and treatment of skin cancer, call Aesthetic Dermatology PA, in Clermont, FL or Lady Lake to schedule a skin check. You can schedule an appointment by calling (352) 243-2544, so call today.