We know that our path begins decades before disease. Although melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, it is highly preventable, and when caught early – highly curable.

Those at higher risk include those with fair skin, red or blonde hair, light eyes, those with a history of 5 or more severe sunburns, those with more than 50 moles, and those with a personal or family history of melanoma.

90% of melanomas are thought to be caused by exposure to UV light and sunlight.

Steps you can take to prevent melanoma and other forms of skin cancer:

• Avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10am and 4 pm.
• Use a broad spectrum (UVA and UVB coverage) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, every day on sun-exposed skin.
• In the case of extended outdoor activity, use a water-resistant UVA/UVB sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Do not burn!
• Wear protective clothing when outdoors, including a hat and sunglasses.
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning beds.
• Indoor tanning has been shown to increase the risk of melanoma by 75%, and is largely responsible for melanoma as the number one cause of cancer death in females aged 25-29.

Early detection is the best way to treat melanoma.

Know your skin, examine it regularly and look for the “ABCDE’s” of melanoma.
A: Is the mole Asymmetrical?
B: Does the mole have an irregular Border?
C: Is the mole composed of multiple Colors?
D: Is the Diameter of the mole larger than the size of a pencil eraser?
E: Is the mole Evolving (changing in size and thickness)?

The role of your doctor:
The National Cancer Institute highly recommends regular mole checks by your physician, to complement skin self-examination. A practitioner’s decision on whether a mole should be removed or if it is changing can be quite subjective. Because your physician likely sees thousands of moles per year on hundreds of patients, having a photo documentation and tracking system is very helpful. At RHS, we offer the FotoFinder system, a computerized mole-mapping and tracking system. High resolution photos of your moles are obtained, with any concerning lesions evaluated in high resolution with dermoscopy. Images are saved for future comparison- at which time the software identifies moles that are changing or new. This helps the physician decide which moles should be removed, or are stable and can be observed.

Mole-mapping should be considered if you fall into any of the high-risk categories above. For more information on this incredible preventive service, contact our office.