Skin Conditions and Skin Care

Preventing Skin Cancer

Protection from the sun is one of the most effective forms of skin cancer prevention. The sun is at its strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. For this reason, those outdoors should seek shade during these hours to avoid being subjected to potentially damaging rays of the sun. Using sunscreen with an SPF of a minimum of 15 will also help to prevent skin cancer. Sunscreen should be applied thirty minutes before going outside and should be reapplied every two hours.

Examine Skin

Carefully examining the skin regularly can also help to prevent skin cancer. Any questionable patches of skin should be brought to the attention of a dermatologist for evaluation. The dermatologist can examine the skin and conduct diagnostic testing if necessary to determine if cancerous cells are present. In addition to monthly self examinations, a yearly examination by a dermatologist is also recommended.

Treating Skin Cancer

Excision Surgery - The treatments of skin cancer are largely dependent on the stage of the disease. The best defense against skin cancer is early detection. Skin cancer which is caught in an early stage is usually highly reactive to treatment options. The most common treatment plan for localized skin cancer which is detected in the very early stages includes excision surgery. This surgery entails removing the cancerous cells as well as a small amount of the surrounding tissue. This is often an outpatient procedure which has a relatively quick recovery time.

Chemotherapy is another treatment option often used when the cancer has metastasized. Chemotherapy involves the use of combinations of drugs to kill the cancerous cells which have spread throughout the body. Although some patients may react adversely to these drug combinations, they are often highly effect and worth the side effects.

Evaluating Treatment Options for Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a serious skin condition. As a result a qualified doctor should assist in the evaluation with treatment plans. The doctor should discuss the treatment options with the patient and the patient has the right to object to any potential treatments but in most cases trusting the opinion of the doctor is recommended.

Clinical trials are treatments which those with skin cancer in advanced stages may wish to try. These trials involve treatments or products which are still in the experimental stages but have not yet been approved as standard treatments for the disease. These clinical trial treatments may be highly effective and may soon replace other existing standard treatments but at the moment they are still undergoing testing. The doctor can provide information on which trials the patient may qualify to participate in as well as which trials are showing promise for curing skin cancer.