It does seem like dermatology specialists are constantly harping on the sunblock, and with good reason. By the age of 70, 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer. The sun that brings so much life to the planet has a deadly side which is why dermatology specialists constantly remind people to wear sunblock.

A skin doctor Panama City FL patients depend on to help them ward off and treat skin cancer would not be doing their job if they did not constantly remind patients the sun is great in small doses as long as you are protected. Sun safety is the number one way to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

What We Know About Skin Cancer

Unlike common belief skin cancer is not choosey about the color of your skin. Light complexions, medium complexions, and dark complexions can all develop skin cancer. Your skin tone is not a way to keep skin cancer at bay.

African Americans, Latinos, and Asians are less likely to develop skin cancer, but when they do it is typically a more deadly form. No one is safe from this disease.

A lot of people think because they do not spend a lot of time outdoors that they are not at risk of developing skin cancer. This is not true. You do not have to be in direct sunlight to be affected by the rays of the sun.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. It is diagnosed more than breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer combined according to the American Cancer Association.

The more we learn about skin cancer, the more we learn that with some self-care it can be prevented. Almost 90% of skin cancer cases are attributed to sun exposure. What we do know for sure is that:

• Mohs surgery is the best treatment option for skin cancer
• Early intervention gets the best success
• Prevention is always better than treatment

Not all dermatology specialists have the training to perform the Mohs procedure, but it is one of the best treatment options for skin cancer. Mohs surgery removes cancer with minimal scarring and far more accuracy. If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer and your dermatologist does not offer Mohs, ask them to refer you to Mohs surgery Panama City FL dermatologist to have the procedure done.

Be Diligent About Skin Checks

Visiting a dermatology specialist annually and doing regular skin checks at home is one of the best ways to detect early changes. Skin cancer cure rates can be as high as 95% when there is early intervention. You have to be able to know that there has been a change to a mole early on to have mole removal to determine if you are dealing with a cancerous growth.

Make a dermatology specialist a part of your health care team to take care of your skin.