Category: Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer: Prevention, Detection, and Treatment

Posted on by Paul Borza

Dermatology,Consultation,Man
Skin cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in the U.S. Accounting for one in every three cancer diagnoses, it is estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

UV exposure is the single biggest contributing factor to skin cancer. Taking steps to avoid excessive UV exposure is, therefore, the most effective method of prevention. This can include:

  • Staying in the shade or indoors during peak sun hours (10 am – 4 pm)
  • Wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants
  • Wearing a wide-brimmed sunhat that covers the head, face, neck, and ears
  • Using a full-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
  • Wearing wrap-around style sunglasses with full-spectrum UV protection

Even with preventive measures, it is a good idea to undergo a complete skin exam every year. This helps ensure the swift identification and removal of cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions.

Detecting Skin Cancer

Manual examination of unusual growths is the first step in detecting skin cancer. If a growth prompts concern, a biopsy will be needed to determine if cancer is present. For this biopsy, a small amount of skin is removed for further analysis.

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two most common types of skin cancer. When detected early and prevented from spreading, both of these types of cancer are highly treatable. Melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer, is treatable as well, but because it can spread so quickly, prompt detection is essential for long-term health.

Treating Skin Cancer

Skin cancer cells must be removed from the skin surgically. Depending on the spread of the cancer, chemotherapy and radiation may be required as well.

Pre-cancerous growths and sunspots do not require such invasive treatments and often respond well to laser skin resurfacing or IPL therapy. These safe and effective treatments are performed in our office, require little to no downtime, and can dramatically improve the appearance of your skin.

We Are Here to Help

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and a great time to recommit to preventative measures. It’s also a good time to schedule your annual skin examination. Give us a call at 206-402-4797 to schedule your next appointment today. We serve Seattle and all nearby areas of Washington.

Rachel Maddow Shares Skin Cancer Diagnosis Experience

Posted on by Paul Borza

A close up of a woman with a dark mole on her shoulder and a doctor's hand holding a magnifying glass to examine the moleSkin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in America, and it’s also one of the most treatable if and when it is caught in early stages. If you haven’t had an annual skin check, we encourage you to contact Advanced Dermatology and Laser Institute to arrange your next appointment!

It’s easy to neglect these skin checks, especially if you haven’t noticed anything that is obviously out of the norm. Oftentimes it’s difficult to tell if a mole or other mark on the skin is cause for concern, and so it is easy to shuffle the check-up to the bottom of your list of priorities.

Sometimes we get little reminders of just how important it is to prioritize our health:

One of the most recent reminders came from television host and political commentator Rachel Maddow. Maddow recently revealed a skin cancer diagnosis, which she luckily caught early and received surgery to remove the cancer with no signs of spread. She had a mole on her neck which she knew was there, but hadn’t gotten examined.

Maddow and her partner attended a minor league baseball game. After some time sitting next to each other, her partner turned to her, touched the mole on her neck, and told Maddow that the mole had changed. At first, Maddow brushed off the concern and felt like the mole was no big deal. Later, she asked her longtime hairdresser about the mole, who also reported that the mole had changed. At this point, Maddow decided to get the mole looked at. Sure enough, the mole was diagnosed as skin cancer and Maddow underwent treatment with a few days of downtime afterward.

Annual skin exams are part of good and efficient health maintenance. Sometimes skin cancers are hiding “in plain sight” and only need an experienced eye of a dermatologist to quickly make a correct diagnosis. In the video, Rachel Maddow gives a personal testimony of her recently diagnosed skin cancer and how easy it was to get it properly screened and treated. You will enjoy her call to action on this important preventative skin care need.

Skin Check: ABCDE

You should schedule a check-up if you are concerned about any moles or other marks on your skin. It’s a good idea to have an annual full body skin check. In the meantime, when you perform a self-skin check at home, keep ABCDE in mind:

  • Asymmetry. One side of the mole or spot does not look the same as the other half.
  • Border. Instead of a smooth, circular mole, potential melanoma may have a scalloped, jagged, or otherwise irregular border.
  • Color. Instead of being one color, melanoma may be multiple colors, including reds and blues, or it may have various shades.
  • Diameter. Melanoma is often at least as big as a pencil eraser when diagnosed, but it can be smaller.
  • Evolving. Melanoma often changes over time in relation to size, shape, or color.

Please book an appointment with Dr. Greene if you notice any of the ABCDEs or have other concerns.

To learn more, or to arrange an appointment with experienced Seattle dermatologist Dr. Steven Greene, please call Advanced Dermatology and Laser Institute at 206-402-4797.

Skin Cancer Risk Reduced With Daily Oral Nicotinamide

Posted on by Paul Borza

As the saying goes, “You are what you eat” and hence, if there is a simple supplement that has no significant side effects and prevents skin cancer, then this is a major practical addition to our skin health regimens. Nicotinamide, also known as Niacinamide is a water-soluble form of Vitamin B3 that has been found naturally in meat, fish, nuts, grains & legumes, and is a key component of the glycolysis pathway, by generating Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. It has been known to have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects improving acne, rosacea, melasma and some blistering disorders. 

In a landmark study published by The New England Journal of Medicine 2015: 373:1618-26, the authors showed convincingly that over a 12 month period taking Nicotinamide, 386 study patients experienced a 23% reduction in developing nonmelanoma skin cancers (basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas) and actinic keratoses (pre-skin cancers) versus those on placebo. The study participants took 500mg twice daily and there did not appear to be any adverse side-effects. However, it is not recommended for those with chronic kidney disease nor those who are pregnant. 

Nicotinamide should not be confused with Niacin, sometimes recommended for lower cholesterol which has been associated with flushing, headaches and elevation of liver enzymes. 

This skin cancer-reducing supplement is not an oral sunscreen and does not replace other sun protection guidance (sunscreens with an SPF of over 40, protective clothing, hats, yearly skin exams and avoiding the hot, mid-day sun.) These are all the mainstays to protect yourself from the sun and skin cancers. Given the safety profile of Nicotinamide, and its protective effects and positive feedback from our patients, I wholeheartedly recommend since it can significantly reduce the incidence of both actinic keratoses and nonmelanoma skin cancers.

Steven L. Greene MD, Advanced Dermatology and Laser Institute of Seattle.

Is Skin Cancer Preventable?

Posted on by Paul Borza

While outdoors, protect yourself and your family with a broad spectrum sunscreen containing a high SPF and be certain to reapply regularly throughout the course of a day. Unprotected exposure to natural and artificial UV light increases your risk of skin cancer. Although skin cancer may be treatable with an early diagnosis, melanoma (the deadliest form of all skin cancers) accounts for more than 9,700 of 13,000 skin cancer deaths each year according to research by the American Cancer Society. Without proper sun defensive care, a blistering sunburn or unchecked mole has the potentiality to cause serious health complications.

Continue reading “Is Skin Cancer Preventable?”