With today's readily-available medical information, a person can do a lot to help prevent conditions like skin cancer. However, prevention, while a very good idea, may not be enough in battling skin cancer. Sometimes there is a predisposition to skin cancer due to the type of skin a person has or their family history.
The best way to avoid skin cancer is to minimize your skins exposure to the sun. Something as simple as sunburn, even if it only happens once, can leave you more susceptible to developing skin cancer in the future. Wearing high SPF sunscreen is perhaps the best way to prevent the onset of skin cancer.
It is best, however, to understand that certain skin complexions are more at risk for skin cancer. That is why it is best to have your skin checked out by a dermatologist on a regular basis to make sure you don't leave any suspicious growth or skin condition untreated.
If you feel like you might be suffering from skin cancer, then you can do a few things. First of all, do not try and diagnose yourself. Unless you are a doctor, then you are not qualified to do this, so don't. This can lead to panic and worry and in some cases it can lead to worry for no good reason.
If you develop a suspicious area of skin that you think might be skin cancer, you can head to your doctor to have it properly evaluated. Many conditions may seem problematic, but only a doctor can tell for sure. If it is the beginnings of skin cancer, early detection can save your life.
Here are a few things to look out for.
- A small bump that is smooth and shiny
- A firm lesion
- A bleeding bump that refuses to heal
- A tender spot that bleeds easily and is often red in color
- A clear looking bump with blood vessels in it
- A bump with middle indentations and raised borders
- An irritated and crusty area of skin that does not get better
- Any growth, wart, or mole
- Any change in skin growth
- A skin growth with ragged edges that has dashes of black, brown, red, blue, or even white
- A sore that will not heal
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