June is an important time for men because it’s the annual celebration of Men’s Health Month! Each June, the purpose is to bring awareness to health issues and diseases prevalent among men and provide education and tools encouraging early detection and treatment. With early diagnosis and treatment, skin cancers are highly curable. So, while thinking about your health this month, we also encourage men of all ages to get their annual skin exam.
Monthly Self Skin Checks
Because you’re the one with the best chance to see changes in the early stages of skin cancer development, checking your skin from head to toe monthly is recommended. Self-exams are a simple, early detection method that can save your life. If you see something new, changing, or unusual during your self-exam, see your dermatologist right away. This includes:
- A growth that gets bigger and appears pearly, transparent, tan, brown, black, or multicolored.
- A mole, birthmark, or other brown spots that grow in size, thickness, changes color or texture, or is larger than a pencil eraser. Also, learn about the ABCDEs of melanoma.
- A spot or sore that hurts, itches, has a crust, scab, or bleeds.
- An open sore that hasn’t healed within three weeks.
Need Your Annual Skin Check?
In addition to your monthly self-checks, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that you see a dermatologist once a year, or more often if you are at a higher risk of skin cancer, for a full-body, professional skin exam. Your dermatologist may utilize a small handheld magnifying device (dermatoscope) that gives a close-up view of the skin’s surface and the layers beneath it. They will thoroughly check your skin from head to toe and pay close attention to hard-to-see spots like:
- Scalp
- Back and buttocks
- Behind your ears
- Between your toes
Schedule your appointment with Alamo Heights Dermatology soon! Contact us at (210) 255-8447 or request an appointment online.
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