It may seem benign - a day at the beach without skin protection - but long-term exposure to the sun can increase your patient’s risk of experiencing melanoma in their lifetime. Dermatologists know that ultraviolet radiation, in the form of UVA and UVB rays, can penetrate the skin and contribute to the appearance of freckles, solar keratoses, and even melanoma. However, that’s just the start of some of the risks associated with excessive sun exposure.
The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that too much exposure to sunlight can also lead to eye damage (like cataracts), premature skin aging, and a suppressed immune system. The suppression of the immune system can also contribute to the appearance of malignant skin cancers. So, it’s a good idea for people within certain demographics to keep tabs on their skin and look for hints that they might have a pre-malignant melanoma so as to remove it as quickly as possible before it spreads.
What Is Your Patient's Individual Risk to Sun Exposure?
Aside from the research, what most people really want to know is, what are their chances of getting harmed by the sun’s rays? It mostly depends on the level of exposure and their skin type. To understand and explain what the risks are to your patients for developing these types of skin issues, tell them to consider the following factors:
They Are Fair-Skinned - Light-skinned people are more sensitive to the sun’s rays than darker skinned people. It doesn’t mean that dark skinned people can’t develop melanoma, it just means it’s not as likely. Fair-skinned people, especially red-heads, who freckle easily in the sun will almost always have a higher risk of skin cancer and need to take protection against it with high value SPF lotions.
They Have Lots of Moles - The appearance of a lot of moles on the body may not mean that they are at higher risk of skin cancer. Even so, moles can become pre-malignant and should be visually inspected often. Those that are large in size or have an unusual shape should be removed and tested. If they have lots of moles, it may be an indication that they need to take extra precaution with sun exposure.
They Have Had Bad Sunburns - Sunburns can increase the risk of experiencing more skin problems. They should keep a close eye on their skin and treat it gently after a sunburn. They should also stay out of the sun, whenever possible, or use protection on the exposed areas of the skin, including the scalp. If they extensively used tanning beds, this can also contribute to more skin problems as they age.
They Are Older - Just being older can lead to more sensitivity with the sun since they have probably spent a great deal of time out in the sun. This can lead to premature aging of the skin and skin damage.
Common Treatment for Physical Skin Problems
Electrosurgery and cryosurgery are common practice for the treatment of benign and pre-malignant lesion. Luckily, there are modern ways to treat unsightly skin issues caused by the sun’s exposure. We at Bovie Medical offer a wide range of tools and leading edge technologies to help dermatologists treat patients suffering from an overexposure of the sun and other skin issues. We would suggest the use of the Aaron® 940 to remove moles and keratosis. You can even treat other non-sun related skin conditions that arise with age or other factors, such as: skin tags and cherry angioma. If they need a higher-powered solution for electrosurgical cutting during MOHS procedure, we would suggest the Aaron® 950 unit for your patients. Removing potential skin problems before they blossom into full-blown melanoma is an excellent practice for dermatologists.
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