Dermatologists are the doctors who specialize in treating our skin, hair, and nails. They treat common diseases that many people get, such as acne and warts. They also treat rare diseases.
Whether common or rare, a skin condition can affect your life. At any given time, one out of every three people in the United States suffers from a skin disease or condition, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, warts, dermatitis, shingles, poison ivy, hives and even hair loss.
One of the most serious and common conditions that dermatologists treat is skin cancer. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, one in every five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. That's why the American Academy of Dermatology offers the following information about skin cancer. The more you know, the more likely you are to make decisions that are right for you.
Skin cancer detection
Fighting skin cancer starts with you. Examine your skin on a regular basis for signs of skin cancer and consult a dermatologist if you notice anything suspicious. These simple steps can help ensure that skin cancer is diagnosed in its earliest, most treatable stage.
How to perform a self-exam
1. Examine your body front and back in the mirror, then look at the right and left sides with your arms raised.
2. Bend elbows and look carefully at forearms, upper underarms and palms.
3. Look at the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes and the soles of your feet.
4. Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part your hair to get a closer look.
5. Check your back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
What to look for
Consult your dermatologist immediately if any of your moles or pigmented spots exhibits these characteristics:
1. One half is unlike the other half.
2. An irregular, scalloped or poorly defined border.
3. Is varied from one area to another; has shades of tan, brown, or black; or is sometimes white, red or blue.
4. Melanomas usually are greater than 6mm (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
5. A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape or color.
Free skin cancer screenings
A skin cancer screening is a visual examination of your skin. A screening doesn’t take much of your time and it can save your life. That’s why the American Academy of Dermatology partners with dermatologists across the United States to offer free skin cancer screenings.
Screenings occur all year long, but most screenings take place in the spring. Since 1985, academy members have provided more than 2.1 million free skin cancer screenings and have detected more than 206,500 suspicious lesions, including more than 23,500 suspected melanomas.
