There are many conditions that might cause someone to visit a dermatologist clinic. In many cases, people may seek out acne treatment products and the best dermatologist acne procedures, as more than 40 million Americans are affected by this skin disorder. Likewise, people with cancer, HIV and other diseases may have to visit a dermatologist specialist at some point to treat a variety of skin conditions that can result due to their weakened immune system. These problems may include candida infections of the skin or Kaposi’s sarcoma, both of which can spread to other parts of the body if not properly treated. However, few skin conditions are as common and deserving of treatment as skin cancer. In the United States alone, one in every five people will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. For this reason, if you notice a change in your skin, ranging from a change in your moles or freckles to pain or bleeding, you should immediately schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to examine the affected area. However, because most cases of skin cancer are caused by sun exposure, you should start taking precautions early. While almost anyone can develop skin cancer, here are a few of the common risk factors that might make you want to put on another coat of sunscreen.
- Fair Skin and/or Light Colored Eyes–Unsurprisingly, the two often go together. While people of all skin colors can develop skin cancer, people with light skin have less protective melanin, which increases the risk of developing the condition.
- A Tendency to Sunburn– While you may have complained to your friends and family about your inability to tan, a healthy glow should be far from your first concern if you often sunburn. Whether you experienced a particularly blistering burn as a child or even last week, this can cause a mutation in your skin. For this reason, spending excessive time in the sun or living in sunny areas causes many cases of skin cancer.
- Moles and Precancerous Lesions– Because most of the mutations within skin cancer occur in existing natural marks on the skin, having a significant number of them increases your risk of contracting the condition. For this reason, keep a careful eye on your moles, freckles and other marks to see if they display any changes or pain.
- A Family History or Past Case of Cancer– Perhaps you had a form of cancer in the past, perhaps even a previous case of skin cancer. Or maybe your family has displayed a tendency to develop the condition. Whatever the case, a previous personal history of cancer or family history of skin cancer increases your risk level considerably.
The best dermatologists offer a number of treatments and services for a number of skin conditions. If you reason to suspect that you have developed skin cancer or have questions about prevention, detection and more, a dermatologist can test and treat your cases, as well as offer helpful advice and answers. Research the best dermatologists for skin cancer treatments and diagnoses in your area today to protect your health.
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