"Every woman at the age of 18 should start having an annual skin exam by their dermatologist," recommends Ellen S. Marmur, MD, chief of the division of dermatology and cosmetic surgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. "This entails a head-to-toe skin exam looking for unusual brown or red spots" she says. But "every month you should do a skin self-exam using a hand mirror or hair blower to part your hair and look at your scalp. Don't forget to check for unusual or new moles on your fingernails, the bottom of your feet and toes, and your underarms. The earlier you start doing this, the better you will know your skin, and if you find something suspicious, your brain will set off an alarm and that will bring you in to see your doctor earlier."
Melanoma accounts for about 4% of skin cancer cases, but it causes most skin cancer deaths. The number of new cases of melanoma in the U.S. is on the rise. In fact, the ACS estimates that in 2007 there will be nearly 60,000 new cases of melanoma in this country. More than 8,000 people will die of this disease. Early detection and treatment can save lives.
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