The health of your skin is important. It is not something that you should take for granted. Remember, your skin is the largest organ that you have. When your skin is healthy, you are healthy. When your skin suffers, your health suffers. This is especially true when talking about skin cancer. You may be surprised to know that every 60 minutes, at least one person in the United States dies from melanoma. Melanoma is a deadly and relatively rare type of skin cancer. Although it is rare, in 2018, medical professionals expect more than 10,000 people will die from this disease. You can take your health into your hands with skin cancer screenings at Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta.
As sobering as this may sound, it is positive to note that with frequent skin cancer screenings in Atlanta, most people are able to catch skin cancer early and save their life. Skin cancer, when it is caught early, is the easiest type of cancer to treat. When skin cancer is caught early, it can be easily removed and a person can continue on living a healthy and happy life.
Problems arise when people do not take getting skin cancer screenings seriously. There is some debate as to how frequently an Atlanta resident should get screened for skin cancer. Some medical professionals recommend that individuals who are at risk for skin cancer get screened for it every single year, whereas others recommend that less frequent screenings are good enough. Not everyone has the same risk for skin cancer. For example, individuals who have fair skin and fair hair, also known as type I skin and type II skin, have the highest risk for skin cancer. These individuals do not tan. They burn. These individuals have freckles, light hair, and are usually Caucasian. These individuals should make annual skin cancer screenings a priority.
What if you do not fall into that type I skin or type II skin category? Does it mean that you have absolutely no risk of skin cancer? Absolutely not. There are other risk factors that should determine how frequently you get screenings. For example, have you had multiple severe sunburns in the past? If so, your risk of developing skin cancer has increased. Do you have a history of using tanning beds? If so, you have a higher risk of skin cancer. Does skin cancer run in your family? If so, it would be wise to get frequent screenings. Do you have more than 11 moles on one of your appendages? If so, your risk of skin cancer is higher.
Many doctors in Atlanta recommend that if you have a first-degree relative — this means a brother, sister, or a parent — who has a history of skin cancer, you should be getting evaluated every six months to one year. Other factors to consider would be your health and your job. For example, studies show that pilots have a higher chance of getting skin cancer than the rest of the population. The same is true of individuals who spend a lot of time outdoors.
Your skin is the largest organ you have. It not only determines the way you look, but it also plays a large role in your overall health. These are just a few of the reasons why you should take your skin cancer screenings seriously. To schedule a skin cancer screening at Premier Dermatology and Mohs Surgery of Atlanta, contact us today!