Regular skin exams from your dermatologists in Charleston, SC, can help protect you against skin cancer.

If you think you might have skin cancer, it can be scary. The good news is, your dermatologist can help protect you against skin cancer by performing regular skin exams. Having regular skin exams helps diagnose skin cancer early when it is easily treatable.

The dermatologists at Trident Dermatology in Charleston, SC, offer comprehensive skincare and dermatology services, including diagnosing and treating skin cancer.

Regular skin exams are important for everyone, but they are especially important if you:

• Have fair skin
• Have a history of skin cancer
• Spend a lot of time out in the sun
• Get sunburns easily or frequently

You can do a self-exam at home to look for any skin abnormalities. You should be looking for:

• Itchy, scaly skin patches that don’t go away
• Moles with diameters larger than 6 millimeters
• Moles with irregular, asymmetrical shapes
• Moles with uneven, ragged borders
• New moles that have recurred after previous removal

In fact, you should pay attention to any mole that has changed in size, shape, color, or other characteristics.

If you see any areas or moles that look abnormal, it’s time to seek out the help of your dermatologist. Diagnostic procedures include taking a skin sample of the area for biopsy to determine the presence of cell abnormalities or cancer. A biopsy will also determine what type and stage of skin cancer you have.

Once a diagnosis has been made, your dermatologist will discuss treatment options with you. Treatment options may include shaving or removing the mole, MOHS micrographic surgery, and other options.

To learn more about how skin exams can protect you from skin cancer, talk with the experts by calling the dermatologists at Trident Dermatology in Charleston, SC. You can reach them at (843) 797-3960 today!