Did you know that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime? By finding the right Pittsburgh skin cancer screening provider, early detection makes it possible to fight back. Most skin cancers are curable if they can be found and addressed early.
There are over 2.35 million people that live in the greater Pittsburgh area. That means that there are over 470,000 of people in the area who will develop skin cancer in their lifetimes. There are more new cases of skin cancer each year than all cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, and colon combined.
You can greatly reduce the risk of skin cancer with the proper prevention methods. Some prevention guidelines include:
- Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
- Seek the shade.
- Avoid tanning and never use UV tanning beds.
- Examine your skin for any new growths.
- Seek a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional skin exam.
In-office skin cancer screenings, as well self-skin exams, are an important piece for early detection. As part of a normal skin cancer screening, a provider will visually examine your skin for signs of melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer (basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma) and pre-cancerous growths (actinic keratoses). There can be other common cancerous and potentially pre-cancerous growths, such as differing types of moles. Sometimes, a skin biopsy or treatment of pre-cancerous growths may be performed at this time. Dermoscopy is recommended to better identify cancerous versus non-cancerous lesions.
Dermoscopy is examination of the skin using a dermatoscope, which is a hand-held magnifier that uses a polarized lens and light to better examine the skin. This allows a dermatologist to get the best view possible of the skin lesion. Although dermoscopy can be helpful in all forms of skin diagnosis, it is particularly helpful for the diagnosis of skin cancer, particularly melanoma. Studies suggest that a provider trained in dermoscopy may be up to 35% more accurate in identifying suspicious moles and may reduce the number of non-cancerous lesions removed.
Are you searching for a Pittsburgh skin cancer screening provider? At Vujevich Dermatology Associates, our clinicians are well-trained in the identification of skin cancer. They are also well-trained in the use of dermoscopy to better identify cancerous versus non-cancerous lesions. Learn more about skin cancer screening in our office and contact us today.
Vujevich Dermatology Associates offers medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology from some of the most highly trained physicians and clinicians in the greater Pittsburgh area. You can reach our team at 412-429-2570 or visit our contact page to see all of our locations. You can also follow us on Facebook to see what’s new in the world of dermatology.