Education Center

Skin Cancer: Need for Skin Exam Increases with Age

If you are 50 years of age or older, a full-body skin cancer examination could save your life. The risk of developing skin cancer appears to increase significantly around 50. With early detection and proper treatment, the cure rate for skin cancer averages 95%.

When detection and treatment are delayed, the outcome is not as favorable. Treatment can require extensive removal of skin and tissue. The cancer can spread beyond the skin. The majority of deaths from skin cancer occur in people who are middle-aged and older.

Why Age Increases Skin Cancer Risk
By the time we reach middle age, many of us have had a lot of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun — and sometimes indoor tanning devices. It is well known that overexposure to UV radiation can cause skin cancer. This is why the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services classifies UV radiation as a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Damage caused by exposure to UV rays builds up in our bodies. As the damage accumulates, it can lead to premature aging, a weakened immune system, cataracts, and skin cancer.

Data confirms that this damage tends to show up as skin cancer around 50 years of age. When dermatologists looked at the data collected during the free skin cancer screenings offered by the American Academy of Dermatology, the doctors found that the risk of a new mole being a melanoma was less than 1% in those younger than 50. In people over 50, 30% of new moles were melanomas. The data also showed that 44% of people diagnosed with melanoma were white men over 50.

We also know that a type of melanoma known as lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM) is most likely to appear between 50 and 80 years of age. In the earliest stage, when it is usually called lentigo maligna, this melanoma resembles a flat dark patch. Since this melanoma tends to develop on skin that has received years of sun exposure, it may be mistaken for a large age spot or freckle. Any new spot including one thought to be an age spot or freckle should be examined by a dermatologist.

Regular Skin Exams Can Detect Skin Cancer
The purpose of a skin exam is to look for signs of skin cancer. Dermatologists encourage everyone to regularly examine their own skin for these signs. They also recommend making an appointment for a full-body exam.

During a full-body exam, all areas where skin cancer can develop are visually examined. Even areas that receive little or no sun exposure must be checked. The most aggressive form of melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), develops on areas of the body not thought to be affected by skin cancer such as the soles of the feet and beneath the nails. ALM is the most common melanoma in blacks and Asians.

Why See a Dermatologist for a Full-Body Skin Exam
A dermatologist is a doctor who has received specialized medical training in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases. This training includes in-depth instruction in how to diagnose and treat skin cancer. After completing their medical education, dermatologists routinely treat patients with skin cancer. Studies confirm that this specialized training and routine care of patients with skin cancer enable dermatologists to detect melanoma at an earlier stage than other doctors.

Dermatologists Treat Sun-Damaged Skin, Too
Seeing a dermatologist for a full-body skin exam has another benefit. As the experts in treating skin conditions, dermatologists know how to treat skin damage caused by the sun. If you are bothered by age spots, deep wrinkles, a blotchy complexion, or other signs of sun damage, a dermatologist can discuss treatment options that would be appropriate for diminishing these signs of aging.

If you have not had a full-body skin exam lately and are 50 or older, be sure to make an appointment to see a dermatologist. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, which makes skin cancer the most common cancer in the United States.

Courtesy of the American Academy of Dermatology

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