Skin Cancer Treatment at Treasure Coast Dermatology

Treasure Coast Dermatology Toll Free 877.870.3376 Serving Martin County, St. Lucie County, Indian River COunty and Okeechobee County

Treasure Coast Dermatology Skin Cancer Page

Types of Skin Cancer

There are three forms of skin cancer. To learn about the different types, click on the links below:

	Basal Cell Carcinoma
	Squamous Cell Carcinoma
	Malignant Melanoma

Prevention

Sun avoidance is the best defense against skin cancer. Over exposure to sunlight (including tanning) is the main cause of skin cancer especially when it results in sunburn and blistering. Other less important factors include: repeated medical and industrial x-ray exposure, scarring from diseases or burns, occupational exposure to such compounds as coal tar and arsenic, and family history. Fair-skinned people who sunburn easily are at particular risk for skin cancer.

Prevention means guarding the skin against the known causes of skin cancer. Since the sun's ultraviolet rays are the main culprit, the most effective preventive method is sun avoidance

Seek shade between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. when the ultraviolet rays are the most intense, especially when your shadow is shorter than you are tall.

Wear light-colored, tightly-woven, protective clothing, and wide-brimmed hats (3-inch brim).

Apply sunscreens with a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30.

With a SPF 30 sunscreen applied properly, a fair-skin person who sunburns in 20 minutes can tolerate 30 times 20 minutes (300 minutes) without burning. However, the use of sunscreens should not be an excuse to spend extra time in the sun because other sunrays still go through the sunscreen, such as UVA or infrared, which can age the skin and damage the skin's immune system.

Begin early use of sun protection in childhood because it is estimated that 80 percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before 18. Children under 6 months of age should not have prolonged sun exposure, but if this occurs then a sunscreen should be used.

The use of sunscreen should always be part of a program for sun avoidance and never as an excuse for increasing sun exposure.

Early Detection

Develop a regular routine to inspect your body for any skin changes. If any growth, mole, sore, or skin discoloration appears suddenly, or begins to change, see your dermatologist or schedule an appointment with Treasure Coast Dermatology.

Skin Cancer: the Disease

Here at Treasure Coast Dermatology, patients will benefit from the most up-to-date knowledge available as well as state-of-the-art technology. Drs Sanders and Ioannides perform Mohs Micrographic Surgery, the most advanced method for treating - and beating - skin cancer. In fact, studies show the success rate of Mohs surgery to be between 97 and 99.8 percent in patients with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.

Skin Cancer Specialists

"Dr. Sanders found the melanoma on my side," explains George. "If he hadn't caught it, it probably would have gone on for quite some time, because it was in an area where only someone who knows what they're looking for would notice it."

"Fortunately, Dr. Sanders found it far enough in advance so that he could take it out."

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