Screening

Dermatological screening, mole screening

Symptoms on the skin often refer to other problems with our body such as a decreased state of our immune system, diabetes or problems with the thyroid gland. You should see a doctor if you have pimpled skin, sexually transmitted disease, or other skin problems.

Regular mole screening is very important because skin cancer can be detected in time. This screening not only focuses on moles but the whole skin because cancer can develop from any lesion of the skin.

The most malignant type of skin cancer is melanoma. It is one of the most dangerous types of all type of cancer too. The rate of people who suffer from melanoma is increasing because of the thinning of the ozone layer, the different sunbathing habits and going too much to the tanning parlour. It is mostly dark brown or black and develops on the surface of the skin in the early status. Later it rises and you may be able to palpate a node in it. The epidermis on it is thinner, so it gets vulnerable and sensitive. On men it usually appears on the chest, on women on the limbs. In case of people who have more moles, it is more likely to develop skin cancer because the amount of moles depends on the amount of the UV rays our body absorbed.

If the shape, colour and size of an old mole have changed or it is bleeding, or inflammations appear around it you should go to see a doctor. Itching can be a symptom too.

If it is malignant it must be removed surgically. You should not use ointments as local treatment because they can cause the spreading of the tumour under the cured epidermis. The further treatment and the frequency of controls is discussed after the histological results.

Screening of skin cancer

Skin cancer affects more and more people nowadays. The reasons can be the increased UV radiation, the changing of lifestyle, and holiday habits. One of the most malignant types of cancer is melanoma. Its rate is increasing the fastest of any type of cancer. According to statistics the likelihood of having melanoma increased by twenty-fold in the past 70 years in the USA.

The only treatment is the surgical removal in time. The detection of the disease in time is really important; it is the only chance to cure it.

Melanoma can develop from moles, but usually it appears at places where was not any mole before. In this case you have to distinguish it from moles, which is often quite difficult.

If you have fair complexion and hair the most important risk factor are your moles. With regular screening and control the likelihood of detect melanoma early is increasing, so it can be operated in time which gives you a good chance to recover from it.