|
Medical
Alert:
Skin Cancer and Bald Men
|
 There
is no other area of the body more exposed to the damaging rays of the sun
than the unprotected pate of a bald man. Skin cancer is the most
commonly diagnosed form of cancer. Signs and symptoms of skin cancer
should never be ignored. Early diagnosis of melanoma may be life
saving.
Prevention is the key to avoiding cancer. Although
many of us proudly display our perfect heads to the world, the sun does
take its toll. Minimizing your exposure to the sun is the most
effective step you can take to minimize your risk of skin cancer. |
|
Actinic
Keratosis can be a pre-cancerous warning |
Symptoms:
Rough, reddish spots or patches usually half-dime to
nickel-size; fine to coarse sandpaper like surface texture that in a
small percentage of cases can progress to skin cancer.
When to see the doctor:
If you have spots that feel like sandpaper, see a doctor.
Conduct regular inspections of your head for changes on the skin to
detect lesions early in their development. |
Treatment:
The lesions can be removed surgically or with cryotherapy, in
which liquid nitrogen is used to freeze and destroy the lesion; healing
should be complete in 1 to 2 weeks. Cryotherapy can sometimes
cause a loss of pigment or leave a white patch of skin at the
site. Other treatments include topical cream and various in-office
chemical and laser peel procedures. |
|
Melanoma
(mole cancer) |
| Like
other forms of skin cancer, melanoma is associated with sun exposure. It
is the most worrisome of all skin cancers. All melanomas are
malignant, killing thousands every year. Melanoma occurs most
often in fair skinned, blue-eyed redheads, or blondes who sunburn
easily, however no one is immune. Although melanomas may appear
within normal skin, 1/3 of them develop in a preexisting mole or dark
spot. Early treatment of melanoma is crucial, because if left
untreated |
|
MELANOMA
CAN AND GENERALLY DOES KILL. |
Symptoms
and signs:
Changes in
the appearance of an existing common mole or birthmark; or a new,
developing mole which shows these signs: asymmetry, border irregularity,
color variation and/or a diameter greater than that of a pencil eraser.
There a
two melanoma variants not detectable based on these signs; nodular
melanoma may show none of these features; it usually is a "new
mole" with very sharp and even borders and a dome shape; it is
symmetrical, and it has an even brown or dark coloring. Amelanotic
melanoma is not brown; instead it is white, red, purple, or various
shades in between.
What
to do: Have
someone regularly check your scalp and other parts of your body that you
can't inspect yourself. If you detect any of the signs described
above, or any other suspicious changes in the skin, immediately make an
appointment with your doctor.
How
to protect yourself: When
outdoors, generously apply sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater. Wear
hats, sunglasses and clothing, and avoid the peak sun intensity hours of
the day. Also avoid tanning parlors. |
For
more information on skin cancer, contact:
Skin
Cancer Foundation - http://www.skincancer.org/
American Cancer Society - http://www.cancer.org/ |
|
