Face It: Skin Cancer Awareness Month

Written by Amy Scalia

Thursday, 19 April 2012 10:32

Face It: Skin Cancer Awareness Month
May is skin cancer awareness month, so we get the skinny from a local dermatologist on how to pinpoint problem areas and new ways to prevent damage.

Dr. Lana Long of City Dermatology and Laser Center

May is skin cancer awareness month, so celebrate the occasion with a few helpful tips to keep your skin healthy.

Skin cancer an important topic to tackle, because it's more common than you'd think. According to Dr. Lana Long, with downtown-based City Dermatology and Laser Center, one in five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer during their lifetime.

There are three common kinds of skin cancer: Basal cell, Squamous cell carcinoma and Melanoma.

Basal cell skin cancer is the most common form of skin cancer. "It typically presents as a pearly nodule, often slowly growing and sometimes bleeding," says Long. "It is easily taken care of in the office and does not generally spread beyond the skin."

Squamous cell carcinoma is the other type of non-melanoma skin cancer. "It is generally easily cured by excision, but there are aggressive variants which can spread beyond the skin," Long explains. "It often appears as a crusted nodule, with tenderness and bleeding."

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and will develop in one in 50 Caucasians, one in 200 of Mexican descent and one in 1000 African-Americans during their life, according to Long. "If not caught early," she warns, "it can spread to other areas of the body. It typically appears as a dark mole with asymmetry, border irregularity, color changes, diameter more that 6mm and is evolving or changing."

To prevent skin cancer, Long says, avoid tanning beds, wear sunscreen with SPF 30 and reapply every two hours while outside. "It is also good to wear a wide brimmed hat and be most cautious of the sun between 11a.m.-3p.m. when the sun is most intense," she explains. "Sun glasses are helpful to protect the eye area."

Long says sunscreens have improved greatly over the past few years. Previously, they were greasy and messy, but there are now new gel and spray formulations which are much more user friendly. "I recommend that my patients pick up a couple of bottles each year and keep it near their favorite outdoor activity, such as in their golf bag or in their convertible," she adds. "Even the waterproof 70 sweats off in about two hours, so you really do need to reapply. It also expires, so check the expiration on the bottle.

Amy Scalia -
	Amy Scalia, a Cincinnati native, is the editor in chief and publisher of Cincy Chic. Send her an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Read More >>

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