Actinic Keratosis
Atypical Moles
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Melanoma
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States—so common, in fact, that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime.  All ages are affected.  Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in young adults and it affects nearly 50 percent of Americans aged over 65.

Ultraviolet (U.V.) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer.  Prolonged and accumulative sun exposure damages the skin.  Heredity also plays a significant role.  A person who is closely related to someone with skin cancer is at greater risk of developing the disease them self.  Other significant risk factors include having skin that freckles or burns easily, fair hair, blue or green eyes, and exposure to sunburn.  In fact, if you’ve had five or more sunburns in your lifetime, your risk of skin cancer doubles.

The prevalence of atypical moles (known as dysplastic nevi) can also contribute to skin cancer risk.  Whereas normal moles are round or oval in shape with a well-defined edge, atypical moles have a hazy or irregular border and splotchy coloring.  People who have atypical moles are at increased risk of developing melanoma and are advised to check their skin regularly.

In addition to checking your own skin regularly, we recommend that our patients undergo an annual full body examination with one of our board-certified dermatologists.

But, remember, prevention is always better than a cure.  Your everyday regimen should include sunscreen and sunglasses and your outdoor wardrobe should always include a hat and a shirt—preferably worn in the shade!

5.0 /5
Aug 18, 2016
I recently moved to the area and went to PSLC for a annual skin check. Dr. White biopsied a suspicious small spot that turned out to be melanoma stage 0. He then scheduled and removed the top layer. The second biopsied verified that the cancer was removed. Dr. White is one of the most confident, skilled physicians I have ever worked with. Doc White’s knowledge and compassion made it much less scary.

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