Who's at Risk of Melanoma Skin Cancer from a Memphis Dermatologist

5 hours ago
4 min read

by George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (04/12/2026)

Cordova Dermatologist discusses ABCDE warning signs of Skin Cancer with a male teenage patient in his Memphis Tennessee Dermatology office — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses Melanoma Skin Cancer with a teenage male patient

Skin Cancer is a growing U.S. health problem, with over 190,000 Americans being diagnosed with a type of Skin Cancer called Melanoma this year, and about 8290 fatalities. These numbers are also growing, particularly in people above the age of 50.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses Melanoma warning Signs with a male patient — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses Basal Cell Carcinoma warning signs with a teenage male patient

The good news is that if Skin Cancer including Melanoma is detected early is often very treatable by a minor outpatient procedure by a Dermatologic Surgeon. Dermatologists like myself frequently take a specimen of skin for what’s called a biopsy, and if this biopsy test confirms Skin Cancer, the lesion can frequently be removed by a relatively minor outpatient treatment with a local anesthetic shot.

Unfortunately, if detected late, Skin Cancer and Melanoma can compromise one’s health and well-being.

Swimmers carefully using Broad Spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to decrease risk of Melanoma — Swimmers particularly blondes and brunettes are at higher risk of Skin Cancer due to exposure to UV rays

So let’s take a look at who’s at risk of Skin Cancer and Melanoma. Skin Cancer includes Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma. The real question is who’s at high risk, because the reality is that everyone is at risk of Skin Cancer and Melanoma, from people with fair skin that tend to burn and peel in the sun, to people with very dark skin, who tend to tan in the sun.

Blondes and brunettes are at higher risk of Skin Cancer since they tend to sunburn easily with UV exposure — Beachgoers exposed to mid-day sun are at higher risk of Skin Cancer including Melanoma unless they carefully use sunscreen

High risk people for Skin Cancer and Melanoma include:

People with a history of one sunburn or more than one particularly blistering sunburns.

People who have tanned indoors – because Ultraviolet light bulbs emit a concentrated form of UV that is really dangerous.

People who have worked in the sun or played in the sun: golfers, skiers, runners, people who like to sail, construction workers, lifeguards.

People with red or blond hair. People with blue eyes.

People with Northern European descent – like the Scottish/Irish, or Scandinavians.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing Melanoma with a teenage male patient — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury doing a Skin Cancer Screening on a teenage male patient

A good first move if you or a family member is at high risk is to come in regularly for a Skin Cancer Screening check with a Board-certified Dermatologist, an especially high priority for people with skin lesions that could be cancerous or could become cancerous.

Melanoma is most common in mean on their backs and in women on their legs but it can occur on any part of the body — Couple doing a Skin Cancer Screening on each other - to check for Melanoma

You could also check your skin overall at least once a month – perhaps with the help of a mirror – remembering that Melanoma and Skin Cancer are most common in sun-exposed parts of the body, like the back, face, and scalp, but they can also develop in sun-protected areas, like the groin, the scalp, and behind the ears. Perhaps if it’s the first day of the month, it’s a great day for you to get undressed and check yourself out – and perhaps all of your family members!

Scarlet Akins developed Melanoma on her leg - the most common location for Melanoma for women being on the legs — Scarlet Akins was 26 years old when she was diagnosed with Melanoma Skin Cancer

For more details on Melanoma, check out a short movie that my own Memphis Dermatology practice sponsored for Youtube: “Understanding the Melanoma Crisis: Scarlet’s Story,’ which tells the story of Scarlet Akins, who developed Melanoma when 26 years old and seven months pregnant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSB-5pTahQ.

The patient below has a Melanoma on his forehead:

Middle-aged man with a Melanoma on his forehead with various Colors and an irregular Border or Margin

What is Melanoma? It’s helpful to get to Know the A, B, C, D, E warning signs for Skin Cancer, also called the ACDE melanoma warning signs. These are rules of thumb for recognizing significant lesions or growths, first described by Dr. Al Kopf and Dr. Darrell Rigel of New York University’s Department of Dermatology:

A stands for Asymmetry: one half of the lesion does not match the other half.

B stands for Border: a jagged border, perhaps like the coast of Maine, rather than of Florida.

C stands for Color change: different hues of brown or black within the lesion, or one mole that’s a darker color than the person’s other moles.

D stands for an increasing Diameter of the lesion.

E stands for Evolving: if the lesion is changing, it’s best to bring it to the attention of a Dermatologist.

I practice as a Memphis Dermatologist with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, in Cordova, Tennessee, a suburb of Memphis, (www.Rheumderm.com; 1-901-753-0168). Or you can find a “Dermatologist Near Me” or “Best Dermatologist Near Me” by going to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, www.AAD.org. Then simply plug your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab. Because early detection definitely saves lives.

Melanoma Skin Cancer often displays one or more of the ABCDE Melanoma warning signs — Closeup view of the same Melanoma on the male patient's forehead displaying Color variation and an irregular Border

In 2016, I became the President of a company called Big River Silk Skincare Inc. (www.Bigriversilkskincare.com). We manufacture and distribute steroid-free exfoliating moisturizer creams –GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion and GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion– as well as a gentle moisturizer HypoShea Moisturizer Lotion. Check Big River Silk Skincare out at www.Bigriversilkskincare.com.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with Big River Silk Skincare staff — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury is also President of Big River Silk Skincare Inc.

The products of Big River Silk Skincare can be purchased on site at 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018 – Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM – or on the web: https://www.Bigriversilkskincare.com. USPS shipping and handling for U.S. orders is $7.50 for orders under $75.00, otherwise complimentary shipping and handling.