If you haven’t had a skin screening or missed going to the dermatologist due to social distancing, it may be time to schedule a skin check.

One out of five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. It is the most common cancer in the United States worldwide, but it’s also one of the most preventable. 

Skin cancer can present in a multitude of ways, however, there are three common types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (most common), squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma (rarest).

“If you had more than five sunburns in your lifetime, then you have doubled risk or twice the risk of developing melanoma,” said Christ Ticoras, dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology of North Central Ohio and on the medical staff of OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital.

There are many preventative measures people can take to keep from getting skin cancer. Ticoras recommends avoiding the sun between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., using sunscreen with an SPF over 30, wearing protective clothing and staying away from tanning beds.

“Getting into a tanning bed is not like going out in the natural sunlight, because that’s a much more concentrated dose of ultraviolet light, which is what we get from the sun,” Ticoras said. “What you’re getting artificially in the tanning booth is eight-hours worth of sun exposure 15 or 20 minutes when you’re in the tanning booth.” 

Adults need 10 minutes of sun each day to obtain vitamin D, though most typically spend hours outside in the day. Ticoras stressed that everyone should exercise common sense and awareness. 

Melanoma Detection and Prevention

“When you’re doing something and you’re doing it mildly or moderately you’re probably not going to get into trouble, but if you’re out in the sun for longer than 15 minutes a day and not being protected, then you’re probably doing more damage than good,” Ticoras said.

Using the ABCDEs of Melanoma, dermatologists examine cancerous-looking moles for their shape, color and size. If skin cancer is caught early, surgery itself is the cure. However, melanoma patients are still at higher risk for having other skin cancers, because of the total cumulative sun exposure over a lifetime.

Although melanoma is the rarest of the three, it’s also the deadliest, which can require chemotherapy or immunotherapy if not able to be removed surgically. 

“This year’s estimates are that there will be about 207,000 diagnosed melanomas, and 7,000 people will die from it,” Ticoras said. 

The chances of the main three skin cancers coming back to the same area after surgery or other successful treatment processes are very low, according to Ticoras. “But there’s a higher likelihood that patients will get more skin cancer because they’ve had their initial skin cancer,” he said. 

Ticoras recognizes skin cancer as unique and will continue to raise awareness and encourage everyone to protect themselves under the sun. 

“We know that the sun plays a role in causing these cancers, so they’re very preventable, and they’re preventable by just using common sense,” Ticoras said.

If you’d like to schedule a skin cancer screening or have other skin concerns, please call (419) 756-1600 to schedule an appointment.