Notice: Vendor data security incident
How can we help you today?
General Information
Request an Appointment
VCU Health MyChart
Find a Location
Get Directions with VCU Health Way Finder
Find a Provider
Pay My Bill
COVID-19 Information
EpicCare Link
Traffic Updates
Traffic Updates
Traffic updates at our MCV Campus
Need help
0
0
0
0
0
Melanoma 101: Tips for screening and preventing skin cancer
5/18/2023 12:00:00 AM
By Annie Harris
With summer around the corner, there’s no better time to learn how to protect your body’s largest organ. We spoke with Kimberly Salkey, M.D., dermatologist at VCU Massey Cancer Center, to get the lowdown on skin cancer risk, screening and prevention – from top to bottom.
Some people think, “If I don’t get sunburned then I don’t need to use sunscreen.” But it turns out that everybody, regardless of skin tone, race or ethnicity, should be using sunscreen. Even on a cloudy day, using sunscreen is important because ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate the clouds.
In addition to cancer prevention, sunscreen also blocks UV rays that lead to signs of aging like wrinkling and discoloration. People with darker skin tones can suffer more from uneven skin tone or discoloration from sun exposure.
The most common form of melanoma in Black patients is called acral lentiginous melanoma, which appears as a discoloration on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet and under fingernails. People may do skin checks but could be missing important places where they can easily screen themselves.
Look at all of your skin once a month. Use a hand mirror to look on your back, look on the bottoms of your feet, between your toes, look at your fingernails.
If you notice one of these characteristics in a mole, you should have it checked by a dermatologist because it may be an early sign of skin cancer:
If all else fails, look for the ugly duckling – something that just looks different than all your other spots.
In general, if you have a personal or family history of skin cancer, you should get a baseline skin check. For people without that history, other considerations that indicate the need for a skin check include:
Unless fabric has a UPF rating of 30 or higher, it isn’t providing you protection from the sun. Use a layering strategy, especially when you’re getting children ready for a day in the sun: Get as much sunscreen on as you can, then put the rash guard on, then put on a hat and sunglasses.
Even if you work a 9-to-5 desk job, you may have more sun exposure than you think. A 30-minute commute twice a day is enough to get some sun exposure. While regular window glass blocks mostly UVB light, UVA light can still penetrate, and both types are associated with skin cancer development. Other daily tasks, such as going to check the mailbox or walking the dog, can add up too.
Sun protection and self-exams are the most important tactics for skin cancer prevention. Though melanoma is one of the most serious types of skin cancer, it’s highly treatable and curable when it’s detected early.
Sign Up for E-Newsletter
New Children’s Tower brings pediatric cancer care under one roof
Common myths and misconceptions about colorectal cancer
VCU health inequities researcher uses her hard-earned influence to support others