Show Some Skin: How Stripping Down Can Save Your Life

SHOW SOME SKIN oprkan (to your doctr) How Stripping Down Can Save Your Life Here's the story: Every year, 1 in every 150 people is diagnosed with skin cancer. One in five Americans That means... will develop skin cancer in the course of their lifetime. You are more likely to develop skin cancer than How many friends do you have on Facebook? you are to drop your phone in the toilet lts not geting eter The number of skin cancer cases in the U.S. has increased over 300% since 1994. Do you really need to spot it early? There are two main kinds of skin cancer: (1 Malignant Melanoma (found in moles) Non-Melanomas (new developments on the skin) When melanoma is detected early, the survival rate is as high as 99%. The non-melanomas are the most common forms of skin cancer. The rate is about 15% Their cure rate is about 95% ...but the bigger they get, the more disfiguring it can be to remove them. at more advanced stages. Who gets it? Everyone. But. Men over 50 are more than twice as likely as women to develop and die from melanoma. 15% of men are aware of this 30% know what warning signs to look for 100% of adults (men AND women) should be getting their skin checked as part of a routine check-up, according to the American Cancer Society Your risk for melanoma doubles if you have: You should be extra super careful if you have: • had more than flve sunburns • had one blistering burn as a kid or teen • fair hair and llght eyes • lots of moles • a family (or personal) history of skin cancer Where do they show up? Non-Melanomas These guys most commonly appear on the face and neck. • The first signs may be small lumps, sores, scar-like developments, or eczema-like patches. • Other signs include sores that don't heal and sores that are growing. Melanoma • On lighter skin tones, the most common spots for melanoma are the back; chest, and legs. *Cybill Shepherd reportedly got it on her back On darker skin tones, it's the legs and feet", especially the soles "Bob Marley got it on his toe. His wasn't caught in time. Know your melanoma s: 1A Asymmetry: When half of the mole does not match the other half B Border: When the border or edges are irregular or blurred C Color: When the mole has different colors or shades of tan, brown, black, blue, white, or red D Diameter: When the diameter is larger than the eraser of a pencil E Evolving: When it appears to be changing in size, color, or shape Is going to the derm a big deal? Not even a little. A skin screening takes about 10 minutes. You answer some questions, You strip to your skivvies (full exposure isn't always necessary), You get looked over, and chat with your doc. Done. Everyone must be doing this, right? Nope. Only 1 in 4 Caucasian adults in the U.S. have ever been screened And only 1 in 14 Hispanic adults have had their skin examined Google search ratios in the U.S.: For every 6 people who search for "sunburn treatment" For every 25 people "tanning salon" who search for there is only 1 person searching for "skin screening" there is only 1 person searching for "skin screening" Google The American Cancer Society recommends routine skin screenings for everyone. ZocDoc Book your appointment at ZocDoc.com Get well sooner