Stand Up to Cancer Day will be observed this month on Friday, Sept. 13, a day for creating cancer awareness and a time to support the fight against cancer. La Peau Dermatology here in Mesa has some valuable advice when it comes to skin cancer.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with more than 9,000 people being diagnosed every day. However, there are ways to minimize your risk of skin cancer without giving up all your time in the sun.
“Patients think if they wear sunscreen or avoid being outside midday it will prevent them from getting vitamin D exposure and that’s not true,” said Vian Al Rubaie, a physician’s assistant at La Peau Dermatology. “You can minimize your risk by being outside in the early morning hours or late in the evening, and you can still absorb vitamin D while wearing sunscreen.”
To protect yourself from skin cancer, her top tip is minimizing UV exposure – which is the most common cause of skin cancer – especially during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays are at their strongest. When you are outside, she stresses the importance of using a chemical or physical sunscreen and reapplying often while exposed to UV rays.
“Physical sunscreens are usually a white paste with a white cast and have zinc titanium oxide that really helps with repelling UV rays from the skin,” she said. “It lasts longer on the skin, is more water resistant, and works almost immediately upon application. Our patients usually like a chemical sunscreen because they don’t leave the white cast and they blend really well. However, those take about 15 to 20 minutes to take effect.”
Vian also recommends a plant-based supplement called Heliocare, which can be used in conjunction with sunscreen and other sun protection methods to prevent sun damage. Other ways to reduce the risk of skin cancer include wearing long-sleeve clothing with UV protection and a wide-brimmed hat.
Early detection of skin cancer is important to effective treatment, and Vian recommends everyone get a full-body skin examination by the time they’re 18-years-old. Those with high risk factors should be getting a skin cancer screening every three months.
La Peau Dermatology abides the ‘ABCDE’ protocol for spotting suspicious lesions – which can also be done at home. The traits to look for include: Asymmetry (one half of the mole doesn’t match the other), Border (irregular or poorly defined edges), Color (varied colors within the mole), Diameter (larger than 6 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser), and Evolution (any changes in size, shape, or color over time).
If skin cancer is detected, La Peau Dermatology offers options for treatment tailored to the patient’s needs. Mohs surgery is the gold standard for many cases as it involves removing cancerous tissue layer by layer and analyzing each layer under a microscope until no cancer cells remain.
“The nice thing about Mohs surgery is that it is a tissue-preserving procedure,” she said. “The surgeon only removes a small amount of tissue around the initial biopsy site, which is then tested to ensure the margins are completely clear of cancer cells. If any cancer cells are still detected, the patient returns the same day for additional tissue removal. This process continues until the cancer is entirely cleared. Because the initial cut is very small, the resulting scars are minimal, and patients generally heal very well.”
Superficial Radiation Therapy is also an option for patients who aren’t a good candidate for surgery due to other health concerns, or those who would rather avoid it. The treatment can target cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding tissue.
Topical creams can also be effective for some forms of skin cancers. These treatments are applied directly to the affected area to help eliminate superficial cancerous cells.
“We always assess the patient and their complete medical history as well as the location of and the type of skin cancer to identify the best type of treatment and strategies for prevention in the future,” she said.
For more information on La Peau Dermatology, or to schedule an appointment, call (480) 401-5966 or visit the website lapeaudermatology.com.