Category: Skin Cancer

Loving the sun is easy; it is warm, inviting, and it soaks into your skin to provide you with incredible comfort, especially after you have not seen it in a while. And even though we all want to use the excuses of “I’m getting vitamin D” or “My suntan looks healthy,” the sun does far more damage to our skin than good. The sun is not only the leading cause of skin cancer, but it is also the leading cause of premature aging. Because of these realities, before you spend another weekend sunbathing at the beach, consider what you might really be doing to your skin.

Aging Skin

Unfortunately, many men and women do not understand the sun’s potential to damage skin until it is too late. People who believed it was important to become as tanned as possible during the summers of their youth may be in for a rude awakening. Sun exposure leads to the premature formation of fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and skin discoloration (age spots, brown spots, sun spots), especially on the highly visible areas of the face, neck, chest, and arms. While some lotions and creams may help prevent these signs of sun damage, they are often not strong enough to combat the damage that has already been done.

Skin Cancer

While we all want to maintain the aesthetic quality of our skin, there is no denying that skin cancer is a far more significant concern. Skin cancer is often caused by overexposure to the sun. It can be mild, such as basal cell carcinoma, which will not spread and is easily treated; or more serious, such as melanoma, which can spread to other parts of the body. Any cancer diagnosis is a cause for concern. Luckily, skin cancer is treatable when it is detected early and is preventable in many cases with adequate sun protection.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

The sun’s rays can be catastrophic to your health if you do nothing to protect yourself. Fortunately, it is easier than you think. Truthfully, there is no way to stay out of the sun completely. There will always be times when you are going to want to spend time outdoors participating in activities, seeing friends and family, and living life to the fullest. You do not need to completely avoid going outside; instead, choosing non-peak hours (before 10:00 am and after 4:00 pm) to be out in the sun is a very good way to enjoy being outdoors while minimizing sun damage. Next, keep skin covered with pants, sleeves, sunglasses and a broad-brimmed hat.  Finally, use and reapply sunscreen on exposed skin,

If you are fighting against the effects of too much sun, contact Dr. Hung by calling his Pasadena office at (626) 432-5032 or his Newport Beach office at (949) 574-8292 to set up a consultation.

Skin cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer found anywhere in the world. The good news is, while it is still cancer and must be addressed in a timely fashion, even the most severe forms of skin cancer are potentially curable as long as they are treated in a timely fashion. Risk factors for skin cancer range from genetic predispositions to your actions and habits. The following is an overview of what causes and puts you at risk for skin cancer.

Types of Skin Cancer

There are three general forms of skin cancer.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

• The most common form of any cancer
• Will not spread throughout the body
• Cannot become melanoma
• Usually not painful, though bleeding and crusting can be present if untreated for some time.
• Treatable with Mohs surgery

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Not as common as the basal cell but more common than melanoma
• Usually related to sun damage
• Arises from precancerous lesions known as actinic keratosis
• Most are slow growing and easily treated
• Small subsequently can grow rapidly and be extensive. This is more likely in transplant patients, immunocompromised patients.

Melanoma

• Potentially the most severe form of skin cancer
• Can resemble regular brown or black moles but can also be pink, red, purple, blue, or white
• Can spread to other parts of the body
• Early diagnosis and treatment is vital
• Treated with surgery, but generally not with Mohs surgery

What Puts You at Risk?

Sun Exposure

We’re all familiar with the fact that excessive sun exposure causes premature aging and the onset of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. Unfortunately, sun exposure doesn’t stop there. Sun exposure is the foremost cause of skin cancer, said to be responsible for 90 percent of non-melanomas and 86 percent of melanomas. The sad fact is that as much as we love the feeling and warmth of the sun, it’s damaging to the quality of our skin and health. Sun damage comes from both UVA and UVB rays, and any amount of sun to unprotected skin contributes to this damage. You can experience sun damage even if your skin doesn’t show a sunburn. While most sun damage occurs early in life, sun damage collects and compounds throughout adulthood.

Moles

We all have moles spread throughout our body. Many of these are normal moles, small brown blemishes that are not damaging or threatening to your body. Unfortunately, while there are normal moles, there are also atypical moles referred to as dysplastic nevi. This type of mole can be a precursor to developing cancer, and the more moles you have, the greater the risk.

Skin Type

Although not always the case, patients who have fairer skin with naturally lighter hair and eyes have an increased rate of developing skin cancer.

Family History

At almost any doctor’s visits, you are likely going to be asked about whether or not a family member has had melanoma. This is because genetics can play a role in melanoma.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

While skin cancer is treatable, it is still necessary to protect yourself against skin cancer. How do you do this? The easiest way is to reduce sun exposure. Don’t spend extended lengths in the sun without adequate sun protection like hats, glasses, or clothing. Sunscreen lotion should cover any bare skin and should be reapplied if you are expecting to be out in the sun longer. In addition to the sun, tanning beds should be avoided as they also expose your skin to ultraviolet rays and increase your risk of skin cancer.

All moles should be observed. If you notice any new moles or if your existing moles are changing in size, color, or shape, see your doctor immediately to be sure that it isn’t cancer. While not all forms of skin cancer are necessarily life-threatening, all must be addressed and treated as early as possible. Cancer cells will expand, invade, and destroy other tissues.

To learn more about the causes of skin cancer, or to see if Mohs surgery is right for you, contact Dr. Hung by calling his Pasadena office at (626) 432-5032 or his Newport Beach office at (949) 574-8292 to set up a consultation.