Dermatologist Dr. Gemma Márquez
I am Dr. Gemma Márquez specialized in General Dermatology, Surgical Dermatology, Cutaneous Oncology, Allergy, Pediatric Dermatology, Cosmetic and Therapeutic Laser Dermatology with more than 10 years of experience with patients. Member of the Catalan Society of Dermatology and the Spanish Society of Dermatology (AEDV)
Dermatologist Dr. Sebastian Podlipnik
My name is Sebastián Podlipnik, specialized in dermatology and doctor of medicine from the University of Barcelona. I currently work at the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona where I specialize in the early detection and treatment of skin cancer. In addition, I work at the Dermatological Diagnosis clinic in the skin cancer, laser and aesthetics unit.
¿What is Melanoma By Dr. Gemma Márquezz
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer.
It is An annual review visit with your dermatologist is recommended. to check moles, but in people with a family history of melanoma or who have suffered numerous sunburns a more frequent check is my recommendation.
I recommend you to periodically examine your skin in a well-lit room, in front of the mirror and using a hand mirror to examine areas that are hard to see. You should check mainly in the areas most exposed to the sun, that is: face, head, neck, hands, etc.
On the other hand, did you know that the sun is responsible for 80% of skin wrinkles if you want to know more, clicka HERE
ABCDE The golden rule
The exercise that I propose is that you learn to differentiate between a spot, a freckle and a melanoma following the ABCDE rule. When a spot or mole meets all or most of the indicators that I explain to you, it is likely that we are facing a melanoma and you should go to your dermatologistgo
A for Asymmetry
The shape of the spot or mole is not regular
B for Border
Edges are jagged, uneven, and fuzzy
C for Color
The color is not homogeneous and can have brown, black, pink or bluish areas
D for Diameter
The size can vary between 3 and 12 millimeters. In the photograph I attach one of approximately 12 millimeters so that you can get an idea of how a black wart looks.
E for Evolution
You'll want to see if the mole changes in size, shape, or black color over time.
The difference between melanoma and age spots
It is important to differentiate melanoma from age spots, also called solar lentigines, which are very common in adults over 50 years of age. They are small dark areas on the skin..
Their size is variable and they normally appear in the areas most exposed to the sun: the face, hands, shoulders and arms. Age spots do not follow the ABCDE rule
Skin cancer is the most common in the world. By Dr. Sebastian Podlipnik
But the good news is that If we detect it in time, it can be totally curable.
If you have many nevi or also known as moles, you should check them periodically to check that they do not change in shape, color or texture. In the front of your body it is easier for you because you can control it directly. However, there are other areas where this review will be more difficult for you, such as the back, the neck or the thighs.
In this case, you can request help from a family member to carry out this review or even with a mirror. However, the best solution is to go to your trusted dermatologist to carry out a professional and complete review.
Now I'm going to tell you some of the methods that dermatologists use specialized in this area to carry out a good follow-up of the moles of our patients, and rule out skin cancer or recognize it and start treating it.
To keep a good track of moles, dermatologists use digital tools to recognize moles and see their evolution from one visit to another.
These digital tracking tools, They allow us to see in a totally objective way the evolution of each one of the freckles or moles that we check at each visit. In this way we ensure that if there has been any change invisible to the naked eye, we can detect them through this technology and make decisions quickly and early. Sometimes, millimetric changes in the nevi can give us clues to be able to detect skin cancer early and offer a curative treatment.
And as dermatologists always say, good skin protection is essential every day of the year, and make an annual visit to your trusted dermatologist.
6 tips to take care of your skin when exposed to the sun
- Avoid sun exposure in the central hours of the day Between 12 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon, the sun's rays are strongest and most damaging.
- Use photoprotectors that protect you against UVA, UVB, IR-A and HVE radiation Depending on your phenotype, you should apply a photoprotector with a different protection factor, but I recommend that it be at least 30. Apply it half an hour before exposing yourself to the sun and reapply it every two hours and after bathing. The new sunscreenSunmas 50+ by Masderm It is an excellent option to protect yourself from sunlight and blue light, in addition to having natural ingredients that promote the protection of your skin. If you want to know more about the importance of a good sun protection, click HERE
- outdoor care . Solar radiation is reflected by 80% in snow, 25% in sand and 10% in water or grass. That is, they increase the effects of solar radiation on your skin. You should also keep in mind that with height (as in the mountains) radiation increases.
- Protect children from the sun . I do not recommend exposing children under three years of age to direct sunlight and, in the hours of least solar incidence, protect them with a high factor and frequently renew their application. Their skin is still very delicate and sun damage could remain for the rest of their lives.
- Take care of your skin after sun exposure. Apply a product with soothing and regenerating principles such asMasderm Triphasic Facial Masderm, helps the skin to rebalance the effects of solar radiation andTrimas Antiaging Cream to regenerate your skin.
