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Creating Better Skin Every Day

After spending the last twenty years struggling with my skin, I decided that it was time to make some powerful changes. For starters, I went in and met with a dermatologist, who was very upfront with me about the nature of my skin. It was really interesting to talk with him about my treatment options, and before I knew it, I was getting treatments to help the problem. Within a few months, my skin looked brand new, and I knew it was all because of the help of my doctor. I wanted to spread the word about the power of dermatology, so check out my blog!

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Creating Better Skin Every Day

Things Everyone Needs To Know About Melanoma

by Louis Harris

The skin is your body's largest organ, so ensuring it is healthy is imperative. Unfortunately, a large number of people develop cancerous growths, which can be very dangerous. While shocking to learn, one person dies each hour of each day because of melanoma. Because of its life-threatening risk, understanding melanoma is key. With this guide, you will learn a few imperative facts about melanoma, which will help you understand skin cancer, its signs, and how it is treated.

Signs Vary from Person to Person

Every person is different and each form of melanoma is different. Therefore, you may show different signs of melanoma than someone else with the same disease.

In most cases of melanoma, there will be some sort of spot, mole, or lesion on the skin. You may have new spots or moles on the skin or these spots/imperfections have grown in size or changed in color. These are all indicators you should consult a doctor for a more detailed evaluation.

Spots, moles, or lesions that are bleeding, oozing, or painful should also be evaluated by medical professionals. Some melanoma patients will have scratchy areas or bumpy areas of the skin, which may look to be irritated, but are really in the early stages of skin cancer.

Finally, issues with your vision could indicate melanoma. If you have dark spots on your iris, blurred vision, or vision loss in parts of your eye, consult a doctor immediately.

Treatment Options Vary

If you have a mole or bump on your skin, doctors will want to perform a biopsy to determine if it is cancerous. In most cases, the biopsy can be done right in the doctor's office, but if multiple samples need to be taken, you may need to undergo a surgical biopsy that requires anesthesia.

If the samples are cancerous, treatment will depend on the cancer's severity, or stage.

In the early stage, the cancer may be affecting the outer surface of the skin only. A small amount of tissue will be removed, which will usually effectively treat the cancer.

If you have a higher stage of skin cancer, surgical removal of the affected skin tissue will be necessary. However, your doctor will also want to check your lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread. if it has spread, chemotherapy or radiation will be recommended in addition to surgery to remove the cancerous growths on the skin.

With proper understanding, melanoma can be diagnosed and treated in the most effective and efficient manner possible. Contact a clinic, like Heibel Dermatology, for more help.

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