5 Tips for Minimizing Scarring After Skin Cancer Surgery
You don’t want a permanent reminder of your skin cancer removal. These tips help you minimize the resulting scarring.
Melanoma Myths Debunked
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 100,000 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in 2026. Melanoma’s the deadliest form of skin cancer. But it’s also highly treatable, provided it’s caught early.
Ali Hendi, MD, and Kristina Lim, DO, specialize in diagnosing and treating melanoma. At Dr. Hendi & Associates in Chevy Chase, Maryland, we can examine your skin to see if you have any irregular spots or growths that could be cancerous. We help people throughout the greater Washington, DC, area, northern Virginia, and the eastern shore of Maryland.
In this month’s blog, we work to dispel a few myths about melanoma. Our goal is to help more people understand this type of skin cancer so they know when to get their skin checked.
Myth: Only older people with light skin get melanoma
Skin cancer does tend to get diagnosed in older adults, but it can develop at any age. Even children should be screened for melanoma.
The same goes for skin tone. While darker skin protects you from sun damage, it doesn’t make you immune. Anyone can develop melanoma, including people with dark skin.
Myth: Only sun-exposed body parts develop melanoma
Because the sun’s UV rays greatly contributes to the irregular cell activity behind melanoma, it’s true that this kind of skin cancer most commonly develops on parts of the body that get a lot of sun. In men, that’s often the chest and back. In women, it’s usually the arms or legs.
That said, melanoma can develop anywhere. People have had this kind of skin cancer on the soles of their feet and under their nails. It’s important to check your entire body for irregular moles. Our team offers skin cancer surveillance to help.
Myth: If it doesn’t meet the ABCDEs, it’s not melanoma
The ABCDEs can help you watch for irregular moles on your skin that could be melanoma. They are:
- Asymmetry
- Border irregularity
- Color that varies within the mole
- Diameter bigger than a pencil eraser
- Evolution, meaning the mole changes with time
A spot on your skin doesn’t need to meet all of those criteria to be melanoma. And catching it before it becomes the size of a pencil eraser makes it easier to treat. Watch for any spots on your skin that don’t look like your other moles, and have them checked.
To recap, melanoma affects people of all ages and skin tones, developing even on parts of the body that don’t get much sun. And it doesn’t always look like a big, crazy mole. The best way to defend yourself is to check your skin regularly and see a dermatologist periodically for a skin cancer screening.
To schedule a skin check with our team, call our office at 301-812-4591 or book your appointment online today.
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