Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of diagnosed cancer in the United States. However, this is a form of cancer that is associated with a lot of myths and misconceptions. Take a peek at just a few of the dangerous misconceptions about skin cancer and the real truths you need to know.
Misconception: Skin cancer is usually painful, so there's no way you could miss it.
On the contrary, most forms of skin cancer involve painless lesions or spots on the skin. You can have a form of skin cancer on your body and never feel any different at all or have any sensitivity when you touch the area. Any odd occurrence of a spot on your skin should be professionally examined by a dermatologist even if it is not causing you any level of discomfort.
Misconception: Most forms of skin cancer affect the face.
The face is one of the most common parts of the body where skin cancer is found because this is the part of the body that is most exposed to the sun for most people. However, you can have skin cancer pretty much anywhere on the body that is exposed to the sun. If you use a tanning bed and do so in the nude, you can essentially develop skin cancer just about anywhere on the body.
Misconception: You can't get skin cancer if you always use sunblock.
Even if you use the highest SPF sunblock you can find, you can still have skin cancer. While sunblock is an effective way to protect your skin, it does not completely block all of the UV rays, and no application is ever perfect. Too many people who have been religious sunblock users prolong having something checked by a dermatologist because they mistakenly believe there is no way they could have skin cancer.
Misconception: People who have skin cancer removed rarely have a repeat issue.
Individuals who have skin cancer once may be more prone to having it again. Therefore, if you have had some type of skin cancer in the past, it is best to be even more adamant about protecting your skin. Talk to your dermatologist about measures you should be taking to help lower your enhanced risks of seeing another issue down the road. And, it is best to have a repeat assessment with your dermatologist annually to make sure everything looks good.
For more information, speak with a dermatologist at a clinic like Desert Dermatology & Skin Cancer Specialists.
Share25 August 2020
It is never fun to wake up and notice a brand new skin issue, but unfortunately, that's what my sisters and I were up against a few years ago when we all realized we had the same skin disorder. It was ugly, it was embarrassing, and it wasn't going away, which really made us wonder if we could continue to go on. We began thinking about ways to resolve the problem, and it occurred to us that we should work with a dermatologist. We met with a medical professional who had a lot of experience in the field, and it was amazing to see how great the results were. Check out this blog for more information.