As summer comes to an end you may have a great many concerns on your mind. Returning to work, school, and thinking about how to deal with that unpredictable Atlanta Autumn weather may be foremost on your mind. However, there may be one important legacy of our long hot summer that you shouldn’t ignore. The end of summer may be the perfect time for a skin cancer screening.
The Perfect Time Of The Year For Screening
Did you get a sunburn this summer? Over half of the population has. Even a minor sunburn during the course of the summer can have effects that linger long after the redness has faded. While one sunburn or even several is not a guarantee of skin cancer, how many have you received in your life? The culmination of the effects of exposure to the sun throughout your life is often not realized for over a decade. However, a recent sunburn or the emergence of new markings on the skin may be cause for concern worthy of a screening. New spots you have noticed are much more likely to be harmful than those that you have had for long periods of time.
When Was Your Last Checkup?
Unfortunately, skin cancer rates are on the rise. However, the rates of screening have not risen commensurately. If it has been several years since a skin cancer screening or if you have never had one you are placing yourself in a very high-risk category. Annual screening is the most effective method of early detection and the end of summer is when you have had the highest levels of exposure to the solar radiation that is the highest risk factor for skin cancer.
You May Soon Let It Slip Your Mind
As Autumn gets into full swing, you may find that your skincare concerns will take a back seat to the work that is piling up or the hustle and bustle of your family responsibilities. You will find it easier to just put on heavier clothes and coats and forget about those strange new spots you noticed over the summer. It may be a case of “out of sight, out of mind” but this can be extraordinarily dangerous.
Do you think that you need a skin cancer treatment specialist to take a closer look at an area of concern? Skin Cancer Treatment in Atlanta is just one phone call away at Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery.