By: Jean Liu Urquhart, M.D.
The month of May means warmer temperatures and more exposure to the sun, which makes it the ideal time to raise awareness of melanoma, the most serious and deadliest form of skin cancer.
Melanoma is a skin cancer that can appear on the skin at any time, suddenly without warning or can arise in an existing mole. Signs and symptoms include a changing mole that shows asymmetry, an irregular border, or various colors. While melanoma is typically found on the skin, it can also arise in the eyes, scalp, nails, feet and mucosal areas.
If you think it will not affect you, reconsider. Melanoma does not discriminate by age, race or gender. Risk factors for developing melanoma include multiple sunburns as a child, family history of melanoma, having greater than 50 moles, having fair skin, history of tanning bed use, and being male over the age of 50. The most common location on the body for men to develop melanoma is on the back; for women, it is on the arms and legs.
Living in Colorado, our risk for developing skin cancer is higher due to more time spent exposed to the sun from an outdoor lifestyle and because the UV light exposure is so much more intense at high altitude.
Since the 1980s, melanoma incidence rates have doubled. Melanoma is the leading cause of cancer death in young women ages 25-30. The incidence of people under 30 developing melanoma is increasing faster than any other demographic group.
As with so many other diseases, early detection is key. Melanoma is treatable with high survival rates if it is detected early. While prevention is the best bet, making sure that you are participating in skin checks to detect melanoma early is a critical tool in dealing with melanoma. Studies show that getting your skin checked annually decreases your chance of dying from melanoma by 50 percent. It is also important to have a dermatologist evaluate your skin, as people cannot directly see 30 percent of their own skin.
But better than treating it is preventing it. It’s a cliché, but it is true that sunscreen is essential—every day. Sun protection includes: avoiding the sun from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. when UV light is strongest; wearing protective clothing, hats and sunglasses; and using 30 SPF or higher broad spectrum sunscreen on exposed skin.
May is Melanoma Awareness Month. Mountain Dermatology Specialists is offering a free skin cancer screening to the community on Wednesday May 10 from 9 a.m. – noon. To schedule an appointment, contact Mountain Dermatology Specialists at (970) 926-1800 or visit www.mountaindermatology.com
About Dr. Urquhart
Jean Urquhart, M.D., is a board certified dermatologist and board certified dermatopathologist. After attending Yale University for her undergraduate degree, she earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and completed her dermatology residency and fellowship at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO. Dr. Urquhart has published articles regarding topics in melanoma, pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology and skin cancer screening. She also has lectured to cancer awareness groups, schools and the medical community to help educate the community about skin cancer detection, sun protection, skin care and management of dermatologic conditions. She is the founder of Mountain Dermatology Specialists.
