Choose Lifelong Skin Health on Melanoma Monday: May 5th is Melanoma Monday

By Richard Bezozo, M.D., President of MoleSafe

Now that summer is finally drawing near, many people are flocking to their nearest tanning salons and spending time soaking up the first sunny days to establish that infamous “base tan.” Though it may seem like participating in these rituals will help prepare you for the summer sun, these harmful behaviors actually put you at a higher risk of developing melanoma, the most serious and deadly form of skin cancer, and other types of skin cancer down the road. Because of this, the first Monday in May is annually recognized as Melanoma Monday. This day was established by the American Academy of Dermatology to raise awareness, promote education and encourage early detection through enrolling in melanoma screening programs and performing monthly self-skin exams. As summer quickly approaches, it is vital to make an informed choice when it comes to your lifelong skin health.

Melanoma occurs when cancerous growths develop due to unrepaired DNA damage of skin cells, causing them to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. This is primarily caused by intense, occasional UV exposure (usually resulting in sunburn) and occurs especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Melanomas often resemble moles and can be a variety of different colors, the majority of which being black or brown.

Despite the significant strides that have been made in the fight against cancer, melanoma is one of the only forms in the small subset of cancers on the rise. Melanoma has been on the rise for the past 30 years and has the fastest growing incidence rate. In 2014 alone, about 76,000 people are expected to be diagnosed with melanoma, causing nearly 10,000 deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. It is important to become educated about the risks and consequences of frequent UV exposure, and how they can be prevented, before stepping out into the sun this summer. Frequent exposure to natural or artificial UV light will:

• Damage skin cells and blood vessels
• Cause deterioration of the skin including premature aging and loss of elasticity
• Cause the skin to appear dry, wrinkled, discolored and/or leathery
• Cause the skin to bruise more easily
• Increase the risk of sunburn, skin cancer and/or melanoma

Prevention is critical, since the five-year survival rates for melanoma is 99 percent when detected and treated early before the melanoma spreads to the lymph nodes, according to the American Cancer Society. You can help prevent melanoma and other harmful effects by:

• Minimizing exposure between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., when the sun’s UV rays are at their strongest
• Staying covered by wearing a hat, UV-blocking sunglasses, a lip balm with an SPF and protective clothing to cover your skin, when needed
• Always wearing a broad-spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30
• Following the ABCDE rule when self-examining skin moles by checking for asymmetry, border irregularity, color, diameter and/or evolving growths 

It is vital to take the lead in your skin health and make informed choices as you are gear up for the summer months ahead. In recognition of Melanoma Monday, I encourage you to enroll in an early detection melanoma screening program before the start of summer, perform monthly self-skin exams and pay regular visits to your dermatologist.

Richard Bezozo, M.D., is the president of MoleSafe, an advanced melanoma screening and surveillance program. MoleSafe has locations in Millburn, NJ, Freehold, NJ, and Paramus, NJ, in addition to several locations in NY, NM, NC, and GA. For more information, visit www.molesafe.com or call 1-877-MOLESAFE.