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Winter is often a time we long for warmer days and a bit of extra sunshine. But over time, enjoying those long, hot summer days can take a serious toll on your skin. “Skin cancer can be a direct result of overexposure to sunlight,” claims Dr. Adam Mamelak, board certified dermatologist and skin cancer specialist in Austin, Texas. As well, the days of no sunscreen and using oil instead can catch up with you and the damage done can become evident. This damage may manifest itself as premature wrinkles and discolorations, but eventually could turn into skin cancer.
Especially as you age, it is important to be aware of the spots on your skin. You want to make sure these spots don’t change or grow in size. And more importantly, if your skin is regularly exposed to sunlight, you should seek the periodic help of a dermatologist to re examine you and make sure you have nothing to worry about.
A medical professional will be able to look at your skin and see if there are any marks that require further attention. Once you’ve been evaluated, you can move on to the next step. If you have no significant concerns, you’ll be properly educated on how to care for your skin, protect your skin from the sun, and keep any additional damage from occurring.
“If I suspect a patient has something more serious going on with their skin, I’ll often recommend further tests, like a skin biopsy,” says Dr. Mamelak. Suspicious skin lesions need to be evaluated further and a course of treatment and action will take place.
Many skin cancers cause local destruction of the skin, muscles and tissues where they grow. However, some are more aggressive. “An important reason you should always let a medical professional take a look at your skin is to screen you for the risk of malignant melanoma,” explains Dr. Mamelak. “This is one of the most aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer, but if found in early stages, it can be cured at a rate of nearly 100%.” Those are fantastic odds, but they only come true when it’s detected in early stages.
Dr. Mamelak treats patients with skin cancer and sun damage at Sanova Dermatology and The Austin Mohs Surgery Center.
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