SKIN CANCER PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
May is National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. This is a perfect time to raise awareness about skin cancer as the weather gets warmer and people spend more time outdoors at barbecues, sporting events, and at the beach. Summer is right around the corner, and so is the opening of WINK, Atlantic Eye’s new center for Aesthetics and Wellness. We wanted to use this opportunity to discuss skin cancer, how it can be prevented, and how it may be treated.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed, with 1 in 5 Americans developing some type of skin cancer by age 70. The main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. Each type varies in its appearance, aggressiveness, and metastatic potential, but they all share some similar risk factors. While genetics and skin type do play a role, it must be stressed that skin cancer can be a preventable form of cancer. The major risk factors are unprotected exposure to UVA and UVB rays, use of indoor tanning beds, and sunburns. In fact, having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma. The face is a very common location for skin cancer to form due to its cumulative exposure to the sun, and we often see skin cancer develop on the eyelids as well.
Atlantic Eye diagnoses and treats all forms of skin cancer that affect the eyelids and surrounding areas. The keys to treatment are early detection and prevention. A good skin care regimen with daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+ is very important, as is the use of sun-protective clothing and UV-blocking sunglasses. It is critical to have annual skin exams with your physician and seek care immediately if you notice any non-healing or bleeding lesions on your eyelids, loss of eyelashes, or distortion to your eyelids. If skin cancer is detected early, it has a much better prognosis. Generally, an in-office biopsy will be taken to confirm a suspected diagnosis of skin cancer. If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, it may be treated with a complete excision by a specially trained dermatologist called a Mohs surgeon. We will then perform eyelid reconstruction the same day as the Mohs surgery in order to preserve the function of the eyelid and to ensure a cosmetically acceptable result. At WINK, our new center for Aesthetics and Wellness, we will also be treating the signs of skin aging, up to 80% of which are caused by sun exposure.
As you get ready for those warm summer days, remember to protect your skin from the sun and schedule an eye exam if you notice any concerning changes to your eyelids.
Jonathan Kristan, MD, FAAO
Comprehensive Ophthalmology
Atlantic Eye
If you are interested in scheduling an eye exam with one of our award-winning physicians, please call us at 732-222-7373 or use our convenient online appointment form.