May 23 “Don’t Fry Day”
May 16 2025
Michael J. Wells, M.D.
Family Practice | Midwest Medical Center
SKIN CANCER
What’s sun got to do with it? Thinking ahead to warmer days…
Summer is about spending time outdoors and enjoying the sunshine.
The sun’s warmth makes us feel good and many believe tanned skin gives us a “healthy glow.” The truth is that sun exposure carries risks. The non-life threatening skin changes include early wrinkling skin, sun spots (solar lentigos), and sagging. Most people receive 80% of their lifetime sun exposure by the end of the teenage years. A single serious sunburn can increase your risk for skin cancer by up to 50%, which may take up to 20 years to be recognized as skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers and it is estimated that 1 out of 7 people in the U.S will develop skin cancer. More than 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer (basal and squamous cell) diagnosed yearly are sun-related. Most non-melanoma skin cancers develop on sun-exposed areas of the body; like the face, ears, nose, neck, backs of hands. These types of skin cancer are curable if detected and treated early. They can be fast or slow growing, but rarely spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. It accounts for less than 5% of total skin cancers, but causes 75% of all skin cancer deaths. However, it is very curable if detected and treated in its early stages.
A number of factors may put you at risk to develop skin cancer. The most obvious is significant sunburn(s) and chronic sun exposure. Avoiding sunburn in your teenage years can help reduce your risk by as much as 70%. Heredity also plays an important role. You are probably at higher risk if there is a history in your family. Having light colored eyes, fair skin, and/or red or blond hair also places you at higher risk. Another risk factor is having multiple nevi or atypical moles, freckles, or birthmarks. Other factors such as altitude, latitude, and cloud cover play apart. Remember, you can get as much sun, if not more, on a cloudy day.
Monitoring for skin cancer is as easy as “A, B, C, D, E” = ASYMMETRY - If you draw a line through the middle of a skin lesion and the sides do not match; B O R D E R - the borders are irregular or jagged ; COLOR – the color is uneven shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue; DIAMETER (size) - it has changed in size significantly (greater than 6mm); and ELEVATION – it is raised above the skin and has an uneven surface. Other concerning signs are bleeding, fast growing, crusted skin, slow healing, and itching. The body does need some sun exposure to function properly; however, you need to practice sun safety. Most importantly, avoid significant sun exposure. Avoid peak sun hours, mainly 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; don’t use tanning booths or sunlamps. Also, wear protective clothing/hats/sunglasses, seek shade whenever possible, and wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Reapply sunscreen often when swimming or perspiring, even if the label states sweat or water-proof. Self-examinations are very important as well. Use a hand-held and full-length mirror to check every inch of your body.
Become familiar with the appearance of your birthmarks, moles, and freckles. Checking yourself regularly helps you to get familiar with what is normal for you. Also, make a yearly skin check appointment with your doctor and if you notice any changes or find anything unusual, see your doctor right away. The earlier skin cancer is found, the better.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wells or any of our other providers at Midwest Health Clinic, please call 815-776-7381.