The American Academy of Dermatology designated May 5th as Melanoma Monday® and they plan to continue raising awareness throughout May. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and anyone is susceptible of developing it. It’s aggressive and can spread all over body if left untreated. Knoxville Dermatology Group, along with the coordinated effort of the American Academy of Dermatology, advocates for healthy skin by promoting prevention, early detection and treatment of skin cancer.
Approximately two million people in the United States are diagnose with non-melanoma skin cancer each year. The majority of these diagnoses are either basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas. In addition, melanoma has tripled over the past four decades and is currently one of the top 10 causes of new cancer cases.
The ABCD’s of Melanoma is a great tool to help in prevention and early detection. Knoxville Dermatology Group encourages everyone to be aware of the warning signs for keeping skin healthy:
- A for Asymmetry – if one half of a mole is different than the other half
- B for Border Irregularity – if the mole’s edges are uneven, blurred or notched
- C for Color – if the mole’s color is uneven and has shades of black or brown
- D for Diameter – if the mole’s diameter is greater than six milliliters
During the upcoming summer months, stay in the shade and do not go in the sun without SPF 30 or higher, with both UVA and UVB protection. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding skin cancer or protection.
