Would you go out in the rain without an umbrella? Probably not. But when it comes to taking care of your skin, leaving the house without sunscreen can be a similar or even worse offense. Using an SPF 15 or higher sunscreen and reapplying every hour has been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer, immune deficiency, premature aging, freckling, and more. Of these, of course, skin cancer (or melanoma) is the most serious. Luckily, there are many local options to explore should skin cancer strike, including Photodynamic Therapy in San Antonio. The warning signs of melanoma are most commonly seen in moles and follow an ABCDE criteria. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should call your doctor or dermatologist:
A = Asymmetry. Does one half of the mole look different than the other?
B = Borders. Do your moles have blurry or uneven edges?
C = Color. Is the pigmentation no longer uniform? Is there a mixture of colors?
D = Diameter. Is the mole larger than 6 mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)?
E = Evolution. Does the mole keep changing in appearance?
Fortunately, modern technology has come a long way and can now offer a multitude of treatment options for skin cancer. One of these choices is Photodynamic (Blue Light) Therapy. This type of treatment combines drugs and light to kill anything from acne to malignant cancer cells. Another option is Mohs Surgery. If you’re looking for Mohs Surgery, San Antonio has several reputable dermatologists. Developed in the 1930s, Mohs Surgery ensures the preservation of healthy tissue while destroying cancerous cells. Through tracking excised tissue microscopically during rather than following the procedure, estimation is no longer an option. The surgery involves removing one layer of tissue at a time and studying it after each removal until finding margins that are cancer free. If exploring Mohs Surgery in San Antonio, you can rest assured that you will find plenty of capable doctors. Skin cancer is nothing to take lightly. Through prevention and the use of modern surgical procedures, it can hopefully become a thing of the past.
For more information, contact Limmer Dermatology Institute or visit them today.
