Test The Significance of Routine Skin Cancer Checks Our skin is the largest and most neglected body organ. As a result, even severe illnesses associated to it, like skin cancer, don’t receive enough attention. One of the most prevalent illnesses in people’s lives today is skin cancer. In reality, skin cancer affects more individuals than all other cancers combined. Even though it’s practically impossible to stop every case of skin cancer, the good news is that routine skin checks can lower your risk of getting it. Likewise, it is of the utmost importance to receive regular skin cancer check from reputable, knowledgeable specialists like those at Parkwood Green Medical. If you’ve been hesitant about availing yourself of skin cancer check for any reason at all, here’s everything you need to know about skin cancer. Skin cancer statistics in Australia Before we dive into the specifics of skin cancer, let’s look at some statistics that will alter the way you think about getting frequent skin checks and the different skin cancer treatment options. Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, making it a serious issue there. According to the reports at least 2 out of 3 Australians will have skin cancer before they are 70, and the number of diagnoses among people 60 and older is continually rising. What are the causes? Abnormal skin cell proliferation results in skin cancer. Australia has a high incidence of skin cancer due to its environment. The main risk factor for melanoma skin cancer is sunburn. To reduce the risk of skin cancer recurrence, you should be aware of the following additional prevalent causes of skin cancer: ✓ Have a lot of moles or freckles ✓ Has skin cancer run in your family? ✓ Easily get burned or have pale skin. ✓ Have light skin, blue or green eyes, or both, and work outside in the sun. ✓ Sunburnt in the past, but it was moderate. Types of skin cancers: There are three layers to the human skin, and cancer can attack any one of them. The layer that cancer has impacted determines how it is classified. Here’s a description in more detail: Basal Cell Carcinoma: Skin cancers of this kind spreads slowly, if it is discovered early enough, it can be treated effectively. Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Skin cancer of this type frequently develops in areas of the body that are exposed to the sun the most. It spreads more quickly than basal cell carcinoma, which usually develops over several weeks or months. Melanoma: Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, but fortunately, it’s also the least common, making up only around 2% of cases. Importance of skin cancer check: Early detection of skin cancer: Make sure you don’t ignore the early symptoms of skin cancer because it is one of the easiest tumours to treat if detected quickly. You should have a dermatologist perform a more thorough full-body examination in addition to routinely checking your skin. They keep track of any changes or new growths, freckles, and spots way better than you can. Due to their higher risk of contracting the disease, those with pale skin or a history of skin tumours may need to be examined more frequently. A better understanding of your skin: Regular skin cancer checks have the additional benefit of being non-intrusive. After having a professional skin health check, you can confidently examine your skin because you will know what is normal for your skin. Helps determine a plan of action: A medical practitioner can then advise you on how frequently to inspect your skin and whether any additional procedures are required. To choose the best course of treatment, they carefully examine your skin type, family history, and behavioural tendencies. Aids in prevention: Dermatologists advise precautionary steps that can help you prevent skin cancer in the future, even if your skin does not exhibit any signs of skin cancer during the examination. Skin checks are crucial, and it cannot be stressed enough. The main thing is to give your skin the attention it deserves. Make an appointment at Parkwood Green Medical as soon as possible if you have concerns about your skin, need guidance on how to better take care of it, or want to learn more about regular skin cancer checks.