Melanoma and Skin Cancer Tips Memphis Dermatologist

George Woodbury Jr. M.D. - 11/13/2023

George Woodbury MD is a Cordova Dermatologist — Memphis Dermatologist George Woodbury MD with a patient

The number of cases of both Melanoma and Skin Cancer continues to rise, so from my perspective as a Memphis Dermatologist let’s take a look at several key facts on Skin Cancer and Melanoma that might save your life – or that of a family member or friend, my own Dermatology practice having been with Rheumatology and Dermatology, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018, since 1993 (a suburb of Memphis TN; 1-901-753-0168):

Skin Cancer can occur among the fair-complected and the darkly-complected — Even people of African-American descent are at risk of Skin Cancer

Key point #1: Who’s at risk of Melanoma and Skin Cancer?

The real question is who’s at "ESPECIALLY high risk,” because really everyone is at risk of Melanoma and Skin Cancer, not just fair-complected people.

The median age for Melanoma in the U.S. is only about 52 years — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. Woodbury doing a Skin Cancer Screening

The traditional “especially high-risk” people include:

Red-heads and blonde individuals, though in reality, most cases of Melanoma and Skin cancer develop in those with brown, black, or gray-haired individuals, possibly because these individuals are less wary of the sun and may spend more time in Ultraviolet (UV) light.
People of Scotch-Irish, English, German, or Scandinavian ancestry, but remember that the famous Afro-Caribbean Reggae musician Bob Marley died of Melanoma at the age of 36, from a spot that originated on his foot, so everyone is at risk, not just fair-complected people.
People who tend to burn or peel in the sun, especially those with a history of blistering sunburns.
People who have worked in or played in the sun or those who have lived in Sunbelt states like Florida, Tennessee, and Arizona, including golfers, cyclists, skiers, sailors, and tennis players.
People who have used ultraviolet rays (UV rays) at tanning salons. See a movie sponsored by my Cordova Dermatology practice: YouTube: “Understanding the Melanoma Crisis: Scarlet’s Story.” It tells the story of Scarlet, a 26-year-old student studying to be a teacher at Ole Miss who found out while seven months pregnant that she had metastatic Melanoma.

Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 50 is appealing because it's less likely to run into your eyes — Young couple applying suncreen

Key point #2: The best moves in the prevention of Melanoma and Skin Cancer include:

Avoidance of midday sun between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Proper use of “broad-spectrum sunscreen” protecting against both traditional UVB rays and also against the newly-appreciated-as-also dangerous UVA rays. Look for an SPF or Sun Protection Factor of 30 or higher. Remember to reapply every ninety minutes.

Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 50 is less likely to run into your eyes — Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 50 is fragrance-free and broad-spectrum

A personal favorite sunscreen, less likely to run into one’s eyes, is Vanicream Sunscreen SPF 50, now available through Big River Silk Skincare (www.Bigriversilkskincare.com), an organic and natural skincare products manufacturer and distributor of which I have been president since 2016 (3.5 oz=$17.95)

(1-901-753-0168) (https://www.Bigriversilkskincare.com/sunscren).

It’s a wise move in the Summer is “sun protection” by waring sun-protective clothing when out. Blue, black, or orange Rayon-base, Nylon-based, or Cotton-based fabrics seem most helpful, particularly after they have been laundered several times.

Melanoma can occur on any part o the body so Skin Cancer Screening is important — The most common location for Melanoma in men is on the trunk

Remember to reapply your sunscreen for yourself and your children every 90 minutes when out. And it takes about 2 ounces to cover a full-sized adult adequately.

Melanoma takes about 7900 American lives per year — The lesion on this man's forehead is a Melanoma

Key point #3: Spot a suspicious lesion for Melanoma or Skin Cancer early is key to effective treatment.

But what do you look for in a Skin Cancer Screening? A good rule of thumb for people to use at home is the “A, B, C, D, E’s,” first described by Drs. Al Knopf and Daryl Rigel of New York University:

A=Asymmetry: the profile of one half of the lesion doesn’t match the other half.

B=Border irregularity: the profile of the margins of the lesion is jagged, like the coast of Maine, rather than smooth, like the coast of California.

C=Color Variation: different hues of brown, black, gray, or purple,

D=Darker Color, when compared with the person’s other moles, or D=Diameter is enlarging, and

E=Evolving or changing lesion.

Asymmetry within this lesion with an irregular margin are clues to it being a Melnoma — The different shades of brown within this lesion are a clue to its being a Melanoma

But an Important Warning: some Melanomas and Skin Cancers like “Amelanotic Melanoma” do not show any of the A, B, C, D, or E characteristics. If you or a family member is especially high risk, do your own checks at home, but also definitely get checked periodically by a Board-certified Dermatologist.

The earlier a Melanoma is caught - the easier it is to treat — A Skin Cancer Screening is a good way of detecting Melanoma and Skin Cancer

Advances in Dermatologic research have improved our abilities as Dermatologists to achieve better Melanoma Treatment and Skin Cancer Treatment. Most Skin Cancers and Melanomas are treated with “excisional surgery,” whereby the Dermatologist cuts out the malignant cells under local anesthetic, out-patient. Mohs Surgery, available in my own Dermatology practice since 2004, is a way of checking the margins of tissue removed while the patient is still in the office. Our goal is to clear the surgical margins of malignant skin cells. We can even treat “pre-malignant” skin growths, like Solar Keratoses or Actinic Keratoses, with liquid nitrogen (cryotherapy) or prescription creams: Efudex, Fluoroplex, Imiquimod (Aldara), and Retin A (Tretinoin).

Melanoma and Skin Cancer can affect young people including teenagers — Dr. Woodbury with a patient in his Memphis Dermatology clinic

My own Memphis Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery practice since 1993 has been at Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates (www.Rheumderm.com), 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN, 38018, (1-901-753-0168), near Bartlett, Arlington, Germantown, Collierville, and East Memphis. Or you can find a Board-certified Dermatologist closer to you by going to the American Academy of Dermatology’s website, www.AAD.org, then plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab.