5 More Facts About Skin Cancer You May Not Know

Matthew Halpern, MD

As summer kicks into high gear, skin cancer remains a concern among New Jersey residents—down the shore or elsewhere. Before you hit the beaches, the park or even the backyard, keep in mind these facts about skin cancer—it could save your life.

1.  Skin cancers can occur on non-sun exposed parts of the body.  Although the majority of non-melanoma skin cancers occur on areas of the body that receive extensive sun exposure, skin cancers can occur on parts of the body that receive little  to no sunlight such as the armpit and groin.  In addition, the most common location for melanoma skin cancers is on the chest and back for men and on the legs for women.  For this reason it is important for at-risk individuals to undergo regular full body skin exams with a board certified dermatologist. 

2.  Skin cancers can occur on patients with darker skin types.  Although non-melanoma skin cancers occur 70 times more frequently in lightly pigmented skin than darkly pigmented skin, they can occur in patients of all skin types. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer in darkly pigmented patients. Interestingly, two thirds of these develop in non sun-exposed sites such the lower extremities, old scars and the anus. 

3. Immune system impairment increases likelihood of skin cancer development. Individuals who have undergone organ transplantation or have any underlying condition that impairs their immune system have to be watched very carefully by a dermatologist for skin cancers which can behave more aggressive in this subset of patients.

4.  Sunscreen is important for adults as well as children. Although skin cancers result from childhood sun exposure, use of sunscreens now decreases the rate of occurrence and rate of progression of new skin cancers.

5. One treatment option for skin cancers is called Mohs micrographic surgery. For non-melanoma skin cancers on the head and neck, Mohs micrographic surgery is the treatment that offers the highest cure rate and minimizes scarring. Mohs surgery can also be performed for skin cancers that have certain high risk features or have recurred after more superficial treatments.

Find out more about preventative measures and treatment options by scheduling an appointment with Windsor Dermatology Board-certified physician. Call 609-443-4500.

How Tanning Beds Can Cause Cancer

Dr. Wendy Myers

The buzz about indoor tanning has been increasingly loud lately since a bill recently passed by the State Senate creating tougher age restrictions for teens who want to tan. With the warm weather approaching and Spring Break upon us, it’s time to reveal the hard truth about tanning beds.

How Does Tanning Affect the Skin?

Tanning beds emit UVA and UVB radiation, similar to and at times, greater than the radiation from the sun. UV radiation causes genetic mutations in your skin's DNA. Although UVB rays—the rays of radiation primarily thought to be responsible for skin reddening and sunburn— have been thought to be the main culprit in causing skin cancers, it is now known that UVA is also responsible.

Changes from excessive exposure to these rays lead to premature photo aging, eye damage including cataracts and increased risk of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers such as basal cell and squamous cell skin cancer.

Is Melanoma Deadly?

Melanoma skin cancer develops when the pigment producing cells of the skin called melanocytes are mutated, most often by UV radiation. These cells then divide rapidly and form malignant tumors. If recognized early, melanoma is often curable. Unlike other skin cancers though, if left untreated, melanoma can advance and spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body, where it can be difficult to treat and even be fatal. While melanoma is not the most frequent skin cancer, it is responsible for the most fatalities. 

What Are the Chances that Melanoma is Caused by Tanning?

The incidence of melanoma has continued to increase over the past several decades. In particular, a dramatic increase in women in their 20s and 30s has been noted. This patient population is more likely to participate in activities such as tanning booths and sun bathing.

70% of tanning salon patrons are girls and women between the ages of 16 to 29. Studies have found a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma in those exposed to UV radiation from tanning booths. This risk for melanoma increases with each use and is increased to 87% for those individuals who start tanning in beds or booths before the age of 35. 

There are many reality stars on TV who endorse indoor tanning as a way of life. But people need to realize the negative effects tanning can have that they don’t show on TV. For more tips on preventing skin cancer, please visit www.skincancer.org or visit the archive of our newsletter, Healthy Skin.

Welcome to Healthy Skin!

The entire Windsor Dermatology staff welcomes you to Healthy Skin, the Windsor Dermatology blog. Going forward, this will be the place to learn about new trends in dermatologic treatment, events happening at the practice and tips for maintaining healthy skin overall. You can also visit our newly-launched website www.windsordermatology.com for more information about our expertise and treatment.

With most of our readers living in the New Jersey area, I must remind each and every one of you to protect yourself against the sun's damaging rays this summer as you make the weekend trek "down the shore." It's important to use sunscreen, perform self examinations of your skin and get regular screenings to monitor any irregularities ALL YEAR ROUND. Early treatment of skin cancer increases the chances of successful treatment.

Read more about skin cancer prevention and treatment in our print newsletter. Send a request to windsordermatology@windsordermatology.com to be added to our mailing list.

Jerry Bagel, M.D.
David Nieves, M.D.