How to Prevent Skin Cancer

Transcript The top tip I give my patients about preventing skin cancer is to use regular sunscreen. Sunscreen applied regularly on your face and your body is a sure way to make sure that UV lights are not damaging your skin. Zinc and titanium based skin sunscreen products are best as they have wide coverage …

Transcript My name is Ahmet Altiner. I’m a board certified dermatologist. I practice on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. I see patients with skin cancer and other types of dermatologic conditions. You can find out more about me at www.uwsdermatology.com. I came to dermatology after doing research at the NIH …

Transcript One of the common questions I get from my patients is, “My mole started to stick out. Is this abnormal?” And the answer is it depends. Moles that stick out uniformly as they lose their color is the normal progression of an aging mole. Like we talked about, moles start out brown and black, …

Transcript Treatment options for late stage skin cancer will depend on the type of skin cancer you have. Malignant melanoma with metastases is still very difficult to treat. There’s an enormous amount of research going into finding a better treatment for malignant melanoma, but there’s still a lot that needs to be done. Currently, melanoma …

Transcript Skin cancer, like most cancers, is a complex formation between genetics and environmental exposures. Most people who have a family member with skin cancer are at increased risks for getting skin cancer in the future. However, this is not 100 percent. For example, people with blue eyes are seven times more likely to get …

Transcript Freckles are common skin growths that happen, oftentimes on the face, in response to sun. They are brown, oftentimes multiple, small and without any texture. They are not dangerous, and they do not lead to skin cancer. They are very common in Caucasians, especially with people with blue eyes and red hair. Some people …

Transcript Clothing in general is a great way to make sure you’re protected from UV lights. Wearing a hat with a wide brim, wearing long sleeves, and pants instead of shorts make sure that the majority of the body is covered and protected from skin-damaging UV rays. However, there are specially designed UV clothing that …

Transcript Is sun the only cause of skin cancer? The answer is no. There are many, many risk factors that can lead for somebody to get skin cancer. The risk factors will be determined, based on whether it’s melanoma or non-melanoma. Melanoma is more common in people who have fair or white skin, people who …

Transcript A skin biopsy is a simple and short procedure performed in the office by a dermatologist. Oftentimes, it takes less than five minutes. It involves injecting a little bit of numbing medication into the lesion and then using a blade to remove it. Oftentimes, a little bit of bleeding is present which is easily …

Transcript SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. It’s the way the FDA measures the amount of protection that sunscreen provides. SPF only tells you how much UVB protection you’re getting, and not UVA. The number next to the SPF means how much more time you’re allowed to be in the sun without getting red. For …

Transcript The majority of skin cancers diagnosed in the United States are basal and squamous cell carcinomas. The majority of these cancers will happen on the face, either the nose, close to the eyelid, or the eyes. The treatment of this can be a sensitive issue as the face is a very cosmetically difficult area …

Transcript Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer to affect the human body. In the United States alone, one million people each year are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer. The best way to think about skin cancers are melanoma versus non-melanoma. The most common type of skin cancer in the United …

Transcript Liver spots and sun spots, medically known as lentigos and seborrheic keratoses are benign growths that are very common. They can happen in sun exposed areas or non-sun exposed areas, like the back and abdomen. They do not turn into skin cancer. They can be flat or elevated. They can be brown or black …

Transcript After UVC, which does not reach the surface of the earth, UVB is the most common type of UV ray that is in the sun. UVB is absorbed by the skin and manifests itself by redness. So by monitoring how red you get you can get an idea of how much UVB you’re getting. …

Transcript UVA stands for ultraviolet light A. There are three types of ultraviolet lights: A, B, and C. C does not reach the surface of the earth as it’s absorbed by the ozone layer. UVA and UVB do reach the surface of the earth and are absorbed by our skin. UVA does not cause redness …

Transcript There are many types of medicated creams approved by the FDA for the treatment of early skin cancer, such as superficial BCCs, and squamous cell carcinoma in situ. Some of the most common ones are used are Efudex, Aldara, and Solaraze. Efudex is actually a chemotherapeutic medicine that’s put in cream form. It will …

Transcript Ninety-nine percent of the time when I have a patient complaining of a new red mole, it is actually not a mole. It is a hemangioma. Hemangiomas are a proliferation of blood vessels that start sticking out of the body. They present as bright, red, small papules that can happen on the chest, arms, …

Transcript I’m not Caucasian. Do I need to worry about skin cancer? The answer is yes. Non-Caucasians are much less likely to get skin cancer compared to Caucasians, but there are certain things you need to pay attention to, specifically, cancers of the nail bed and the nail. Cancers that involve the palms and soles …

Transcript What is a skin tag, and does it ever mean it’s cancerous? This is a difficult question to answer, as people perceive different growths as skin tags. Traditionally, skin tags happen in the armpits and around the neck. They’re benign growths of the skin that are absolutely skin-colored. They don’t have any color to …

Transcript I’m not Caucasian. Do I need to worry about skin cancer? The answer is yes. Non-Caucasians are much less likely to get skin cancer compared to Caucasians, but there are certain things you need to pay attention to, specifically, cancers of the nail bed and the nail. Cancers that involve the palms and soles …

Transcript What is a safe way to tan? My answer is none; however, I understand that most of my patients want to get at least a little bit of a tan. So the advice I give them is the same advice I give my psoriasis and my Vitiligo patients, where natural sun is known to …

Transcript Actinic keratosis are most commonly thought as precancerous lesions that may lead to squamous cell carcinoma. They often happen on sun-exposed areas in Caucasians later in life. They may appear as red scaly bumps, but oftentimes they may look exactly like normal skin but feel very rough. The best way to determine if you …

Transcript Recent studies have shown that women under the age of 40, who will be using tanning beds regularly, are at increased risk for skin cancer, specifically melanoma. The exact cause of this is not well understood. We do know that the U. S. government does not regulate the types of bulbs, and the types …

Transcript Whenever I ask my patients, “Do you protect yourself from the sun,” the answer’s is almost always, “Yes, I wear sunscreen.” But it’s important to know that there are many other things you can do to protect yourself from the damaging rays of UV light. Number one is clothing. Wear a hat. Wear clothing …

Transcript Sunburns, particularly blistering sunburns during childhood is a well-known risk factor for getting skin cancer in the future, melanoma and non-melanoma. Whenever I see a patient, and I’m determining the type of screening they need for skin cancer, this is one of the most important questions I ask. Another question I ask is the …

Transcript Treatment of actinic keratosis will depend on the number of actinic keratosis that you have and a consultation with your dermatologist. As we discussed earlier, not all actinic keratosis lead to squamous cell carcinoma. And some people feel comfortable leaving them untreated. However, most dermatologists recommend that they are treated as ten percent conversion …

Transcript We spoke about what melanoma looks like, but it’s important to make sure you understand what non-melanoma skin cancer looks like. Basal cell carcinomas often appear on sun-exposed areas as a shiny bump, especially around the nose or around the eyelids. It may have blood vessels growing on it, which is an important clue …

Transcript One of the more common questions I get in my clinic is “Is itchy skin a sign of cancer,” and the answer is it depends. If you have a specific spot, a mole or a growth that’s persistently itchy, this can definitely be a sign of skin cancer even if the color and the …

Transcript Do moles turn into skin cancer? This is a common question that I get, and it’s a very difficult question to answer. Most moles just will go through a regular, expected growth rate. They start off round and flat. As we get older, they will start losing their color and start to get slowly …

Transcript Treatment of early skin cancer will depend on the type of skin cancer you have. Early melanoma is treated easily, with a simple excision of the primary lesion, as well as surrounding tissue. When you think about treating late melanoma which may require extensive surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, that’s why it is so …

Transcript It is normal to get new moles up until the age of 34 to 40. Just because you notice a new mole does not mean you have skin cancer. But, it’s important to pay attention to certain details. The number one thing I tell my patients is to look for the ugly duckling. If …

Transcript How do I examine myself for skin cancer? It’s a very important question. First is how often you should examine yourself. I recommend once a month. A month is a log enough time to notice any changing moles. Yet it is short enough that if you notice a change, a dermatologist can do a …

Transcript Treatment of skin cancer will depend on the type of skin cancer you have. If you have been diagnosed with a melanoma, the first step will be to cut out the actual tumor and the surrounding normal tissue. The amount of normal tissue needed for the examination will be determined by the depth of …

Transcript Three modalities need to come together to make sure that you have an accurate diagnosis, of whether you have skin cancer or not. The first step is an examination by a dermatologist. Oftentimes, just with the naked eye a dermatologist can determine, whether a mole or a suspicious bump is cancerous or completely benign. …

Transcript Kaposi sarcoma used to be unheard of in the United States prior to the 1980’s, but with the emergence of HIV and AIDS, it has become much more commonly seen. Kaposi sarcoma is overgrowth of blood vessels underneath the skin, in a disorganized and carcinogenic way. It is oftentimes related to a type of …

Transcript Recognizing melanoma is one of the most difficult things a dermatologist needs to do. ABCDE are a quick way to remember how to look for a melanoma. A, stands for asymmetry. Most small moles are symmetric and round. Most melanomas are not. So if you notice a mole that has an irregular pattern at …

Transcript Merkel cell carcinoma is an exceedingly rare skin cancer that happens on sun-exposed areas. It is formed by the Merkel cell that resides in the skin. The function of the Merkel cell is not entirely well understood. Merkel cell carcinoma is considered one of the more dangerous carcinomas for the skin, as it can …

Transcript Diagnosing a melanoma is one of the biggest challenges for a dermatologist as well as for patients. A simple A, B, C, D, E rule can help you remember how to spot a melanoma. A is asymmetric. Most moles are round and symmetric. Most melanomas are not. So, if you see a new mole …

Transcript The progression to melanoma is still poorly understood and there’s a lot of research going into it. Our current understanding is that melanoma arises, either from an existing mole called a dysplastic nevus or de novo, meaning abnormal skin. As the melanoma grows, it tends to have a horizontal growth phase, meaning it will …

Transcript Sebaceous gland carcinomas are exceedingly rare. They almost always present at the eyelid, as a persistent red-yellow bump The most common complaint of a patient will be a persistent sty that’s not going away. Only a biopsy can determine whether we have sebaceous cell carcinoma or not. It’s important to make this diagnosis, not …

Transcript Treatment of melanoma will be determined based on the stage of the melanoma. Melanoma in situ, which means the melanoma’s completely confined to the epidermis is treated just with excision. Normal surrounding tissue will need to be taken for examination for micrometastases. The second step is the treatment of invasive melanoma. The treatment of …

Transcript The ingredients of the sunscreen and how much you use, will determine the amount of UV protection you get. Zinc and titanium based products tend to give you wider coverage and last longer on the skin. Avobenzone products tend to disintegrate within two hours in the sun, so it is important to reapply every …

Transcript Every year, more than one million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is by far the most common one. Oftentimes related to sun exposure, basal cell carcinomas happen later in life, most often in Caucasians. Around the nose, around the eye and around the ear are the …

Transcript Melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer. It accounts for only 4.0% of total skin cancer’s diagnosed, yet 73% of deaths, due to skin cancer are because of melanoma. Melanoma primarily happens in Caucasians yet it’s important to remember that Indians, African-Americans, Asians can also get melanoma. Melanoma can happen on sun-exposed areas, …

Transcript Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer to affect the human body. They oftentimes appear in sun exposed areas, like the face and the ears. Diagnosing basal cell carcinoma without a biopsy can be difficult. A bump that looks a little pearly, a bump that has blood vessels growing on …

Transcript It’s important to think of squamous cell carcinomas in two ways. One, squamous cell carcinomas that come from the skin. Two, squamous cell carcinomas that come from elsewhere, like inside the mouth, the stomach or the esophagus. Squamous cell carcinomas that arise from the skin have excellent prognosis. Excision is oftentimes the only thing …

Transcript Stages of skin cancer are a little bit different than stages of let’s say, breast cancer or colon cancer. It’s best to think of them as normal moles, dysplastic moles, which are precancerous, and melanoma, which is a type of cancer. Dysplastic moles or nevi, are easily treated with a simple excision. If we …

Transcript Signs and symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma will depend on where the squamous cell carcinoma is. If the squamous cell carcinoma is on the skin, rough and scaly skin is the number one sign and symptom. Oftentimes, these happen on sun-exposed areas. Persistent red, scaly spots on the nose, the cheeks and the ears …

Transcript Prognosis of skin cancer will be determined of the type of skin cancer you have. Basal and squamous cell carcinomas have excellent prognosis. A simple incision is often the only thing needed for a cure. The prognosis for melanoma will depend on the type of melanoma you have. Melanoma in situ, which is melanoma …

Transcript How do you get skin cancer? It’s not an easy question to answer, there are multiple factors in place. The number one though, by far is sun exposure. It’s not just an exposure in the past year or two, but sun exposure that started very early in life and that extends into teen-age years. …

Transcript The risk factors for skin cancer will depend on your demographics. A recent study has shown that if you’re a woman under the age of 40, your most likely risk factor is using a tanning bed. If you’re a man above the age of 40, your most likely risk factor is prior skin burn …

Transcript How do I know if I have skin cancer? This is a question I get regularly from my patients and it’s not an easy one to answer. Late stage of skin cancer can be easily diagnosed by a dermatologist and a non-dermatologist, but that’s not our goal. Our goal is to make sure that …

Transcript Whether you need screening for skin cancer or not will depend on your demographics. If you have a history of skin cancer, if you have a family history of skin cancer, if you have a history of blistering sunburns, or if you use tanning booths regularly, it’s probably a good idea for you to …

Transcript Having been diagnosed with skin cancer, what next? This is a common question I get from my patients. The answer depends on the type of skin cancer you have. If you have a non-melanoma skin cancer, like basal cell or squamous cell, what you need to expect is that entire proper excision will likely …

Transcript One of the most common questions I get from my patients are how can I spot a skin cancer? What are the signs and symptoms I should be looking for? It’s a very difficult question to answer, because it depends on the type. Melanoma forms from the melanocytes, the pigment making cells. So when …

Transcript There are more than 15 types of skin cancer that affect the human body. In general though, it’s best to think of them as melanomas and non-melanomas. Melanomas account for only 4.0% of the skin cancers that humans get, but they form 73% of the mortality. So it’s very serious. Non-melanoma skin cancers can …

Transcript Trying to spot a skin cancer on your body can be difficult, because it depends on the type of cell that formed the skin cancer in the first place. If it were a melanocyte which is the pigment making cell, you should be looking for dark spots, multiples spots, spots that seem to be …

Transcript Skin cancer is abnormal proliferation of cells that make up the epidermis, the top layer of the skin. The majority of the cells are keratinocytes, but there are also melanocytes, merkel cells, and many other cells that make up the skin. When these cells grow disproportionate to what they should be growing, they form …