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Skin diaries: skin cancer

30 . 11 . 24

Hello, there. It’s me, your skin. I keep you safe from sun, rain, cold, heat, and so much more. But here’s the thing: I need your help to keep us both safe from a serious threat –  skin cancer.

I love the sun as much as you do. It gives me a wonderful sense of warmth and a healthy dose of vitamin D. But there’s a risky side to sun exposure too. Here’s how to protect me and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

The sun’s impact 

You can’t see the sun’s ultraviolet rays (UVA) but, believe me, I know they’re there!

UVB rays are stronger in summer and you’ve probably experienced their impact – sunburn. 

This is a big deal. 

When my surface cells burn, it’s my way of signalling that DNA damage has occurred. If you’re not careful with your sun protection, you’ll burn more often (you may call it ‘tanning’ but trust me, it’s burning). Day after day, summer after summer, this damage adds up, increasing your risk of skin cancer. 

UVA rays hit me all through the year. They reach me on cloudy, overcast days and can still get to me through glass when you’re driving or pottering in the greenhouse. You won’t see any visible impact on my surface but UVA rays can do harm deeper down. Over time, UVA rays can: 

  • Break down my collagen and elastin, causing wrinkles, sagging and premature ageing (you won’t like that, I bet!)
  • Cause mutations in my DNA, which could eventually turn into skin cancer (you’ll like that even less!).

Every time my cells divide, there’s a small chance something could go wrong – a mutation. This risk increases as you get older. Damage from long-ago sunburns can even lead to skin cancer years down the line. So, even though you might not see or feel it, UV rays are affecting me every day.

Protect me, please!

I’m the first physical barrier between you and the outside world. I do my best to protect you from germs and toxins, I help you experience things by touching them, and I help you regulate your temperature. 

In return, I’d love you to take care of me and protect me from harmful UV rays. You can do that by being sunsmart, which means: 

  • Slipping on a shirt
  • Slopping on sunscreen each day (even when it’s not sunny!)
  • Slapping on a wide-brimmed hat
  • Seeking shade
  • Sliding on a pair of sunglasses. 

It’s really not too much to ask!

Spotting signs of skin cancer

I’m no longer the beautiful blank canvas I was when you were born. By now, I’ve probably acquired a few moles and freckles. I think they give me a bit of individuality. 

But sometimes, a certain mole, freckle or spot merits a closer look. I’d encourage you to check me regularly at home, looking for early signs of skin cancer. I’d also encourage you to see an experienced doctor for a skin cancer check as they’ll probably notice things you won’t. 

Early signs of cancer include: 

  • Moles that are:
    • New
    • Getting bigger
    • Notched or uneven around the edges
    • Itchy or tingling
    • Bleeding or weeping
    • Rough, scaly or ulcerated.
  • Spots that are: 
    • Changing colour from brown to black
    • Varied in colour
    • Looking a bit different to other spots. 

Book me in for a skin cancer check, please!

From time to time, it’s wise to take me to a doctor with additional training in skin cancer diagnosis and treatment for a thorough check up.

I must admit, I’m a little bit partial to the skin cancer doctors at Complete Skin Specialist – both have completed additional training in skin cancer. 

When you see one of these Complete professionals, they’ll probably begin by asking about your lifestyle (are we out in the sun all day or sitting inside?) and your medical history. They’ll probably also ask if you’ve noticed any changes in your skin. I’m counting on you to answer honestly. 

They will then carefully check all your moles using a specialised hand-held device called a dermatoscope. 

I know you might find this a bit of a weird experience but they’ll do their best to make you feel at ease. They won’t usually examine your breasts or genitals unless you’ve noticed concerning changes in your skin in those areas. 

After examining you, your doctor will explain what they’ve seen. They might reassure you that I look fine and encourage you to keep using sunscreen or they might choose to biopsy a certain mole to see if it’s cancerous. 

If I do need some skin cancer treatment, it can often be done in the clinic. This may include removing any moles that you find annoying or unsightly (cosmetic removal) or removing any cancerous or pre-cancerous moles. Some skin cancers can be treated without any invasive procedures using cryotherapy (freezing – brrr!). 

You don’t need a referral for a skin check. You can just book an appointment with our skin cancer doctors.

So, let’s get on with it – book your skin check today via HotDoc.

You do your bit, I’ll do mine

I’ll keep working hard to protect you, but I need your help in return. Stay vigilant, wear sunscreen, seek shade, and make regular skin checks part of our routine. Together, we can keep me healthy and looking beautiful for years to come.

Lots of love

Your skin

 

Disclaimer 

All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Individual results may vary. Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.

#CompleteSkinSpecialists #Sunbury #Sunburyvic #melbourneaesthetics #melbournedermatology #melbourneskincheck 

References

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