5 Ways to Help Prevent Skin Cancer

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At Goldsmith Podiatry, we know that after an extended lockdown, all our Manhattan patients are looking forward to getting outside. We also know that the sun is good for killing the coronavirus, but it can be harmful to your skin. May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Here are 5 ways to enjoy outdoor time and limit your risk of skin cancer on your feet and other parts of your body:

  1. Know your risk. Having a family history of skin cancer increases your chances of getting it also. In addition, being fair-skinned, red hair, and having had one or more bad sunburns all increase your risk. Patients with these factors need to be extra careful of exposure to the sun.

  2. Inspect your skin regularly. Skin checks for new or unusual spots or changes to existing freckles or moles are an essential tool for early detection. It is particularly important when it comes to your feet. Often we don’t expect skin cancer to show up in the skin of the feet, and for that reason, it may not be diagnosed until a more advanced stage. Be sure to check between your toes and also bring to the attention of our podiatrists, Dr. Howard Goldsmith and Dr. Rosanna Troia, any dark spots that you see under your toenails.

  3. Recognize the warning signs. An easy way to remember the signs you want to look for is ABCDE. A—is the mole asymmetrical? Moles that are the same on both sides if you drew a line down the middle are less likely to be cancerous. B—are the Borders of the mole or freckle irregular? C—note the Color of the skin. A mottled appearance with multiple colors is more concerning. D—diameter—bigger than a pencil eraser. E—evolving, has an existing mole or freckle started to change in appearance, or is it bleeding or itchy? If you notice any of these signs, contact our Upper West Side office by calling (212) 877-1002.

  4. Use sunscreen consistently. Apply sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of 15 or higher anytime you’ll be outdoors. This includes even short stints like walking to work, going shopping, etc. Beach and pool days will need re-applications every two hours and after swimming.

  5. Never use tanning beds. Even one session before the age of 35 increases your risk of developing melanoma by 75%.

If you have additional questions about skin cancer and your feet, please contact us 212-877-1002

Goldsmith Podiatry