Dr. Jeffrey Kauffman in York, PA sees many patients will histories of skin cancers. "I express to all my patients that you have skin on your legs and feet like the rest of your body." Most patients do not think of skin cancer on your legs and feet like that on the rest of their body. A history of skin cancer personally or in the family should raise a red flag. Doctors estimate that nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will develop skin cancer at least once.
By telling your doctor your skin medical history they will pay extra attentions to any dermatological issues that maybe present.
The three most common forms of skin cancer are:
basal cell carcinoma (or basal cell carcinoma epithelioma)
squamous cell carcinoma (the first stage of which is called actinic keratosis)
melanoma basal cell carcinoma, squamous.
Several of the factors that increase your risk of skin cancer are:family history, age, skin complexion, sun exposure, UV radiation (tanning beds).
There are several preventive measure that you can undertake to lower your risk of developing skin cancer.
limiting recreational sun exposure;
avoiding unprotected exposure to the sun during peak radiation times from 10AM to 2PM
wearing tightly-woven protective clothing while outdoors in the sun
regularly using a waterproof or water-resistant sunscreen with UVA protection and SPF 30 or higher
undergoing regular checkups and bringing any suspicious-looking or changing lesions to the attention of a doctor; and
avoiding the use of tanning beds and using a sunscreen with an SPF 30 and protection against UVA
" Prevention is the key to limiting medical care in your life"
For further information take a look at www.premierwalking.com Patient Education Page