All About Skin Cancer
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month! Unfortunately, melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer and it often goes long undetected, especially when it comes to your feet. Skin cancer signs are luckily visible, so we want to encourage our patients to keep a close eye on their skin and take notes of any changes. Here’s what you need to know about skin cancer!
Causes of Skin Cancer
Most people connect skin cancer to overexposure to sunlight or ultraviolet rays. While this is the most common way to get skin cancer, there are some other ways you can develop it that are worth mentioning.
Chemical exposure – Toxic chemicals can alter the DNA in the skin, possibly creating conditions for tumors to grow.
Compromised Immune system – A depleted immune system can inhibit your body’s ability to fight cancerous cells.
HIV infection – infections and treatments can compromise the immune system.
Melanin deficiency – A genetic mutation can decrease your skin’s ability to retain and produce melanin. Low melanin can increase ultraviolet light penetration, possibly causing skin cancer.
Moles and Lesions
Have you noticed anything new or unusual on your foot or ankle? What about any changes in existing moles or lesions? Call your foot doctor ASAP! Look for differences in shape, size, color, and texture. The Skin Cancer Foundation suggests that moles and spots found after 21 should be checked out by a doctor.
Trust your gut! You know your skin best.
Don’t ignore or dismiss anything unusual.
Check your skin daily.
Talk with your family members about their skin history.
Avoid delaying your visit – early detection can prevent larger issues.
Stay out of the sun as much as possible and apply sunscreen every day (even in the winter)
Here at PodiatryCare, PC, and the Heel Pain Center, we specialize in custom orthotics, along with various other foot and ankle ailments. Dr. Charlotte George, Dr. Matthew Tschudy, Dr. Rebecca Wiesner, Dr. Kristen Winters, Dr. Laura Vander Poel, and the rest of our team are dedicated to helping our Hartford County patients. To schedule an appointment at our Enfield location, call (860) 741-3041; for an appointment at our South Windsor location, call (860) 644-6525.