Expert advice to know about melanoma before it’s too late

HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) – The first Monday in May is known as Melanoma Monday, a day to raise awareness to help people avoid a painful or even life-altering diagnosis of skin cancer.

“Melanoma is a serious skin cancer that derives from the melanotic sites of your skin, which gives us our color,” said Leslie Deaton, nurse practitioner at Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky.

A few years ago, Deaton unexpectedly discovered two spots on her leg which she later discovered to be melanoma. She said she was lucky to have found it early on, and she thinks days like Melanoma Monday are important to raise awareness.

“Before my melanoma diagnosis, I didn’t use sunscreen. I didn’t use the tanning bed much, but I did. I would put sunscreen on the most sun-prone areas like your shoulders, your face, you know those things,” Deaton said.

She said it’s important to go to your doctor for annual skin checks, and there are key factors to pay attention to about your skin.

“You want to look for the ABCs of your skin. So if you see something asymmetrical, that means one side isn’t the same as the other or it’s not round. is your first thing. The second is that the edges are smooth, are they zigzag, are they jagged? That’s number two,” Deaton said.

She added that the third sign to look for is if the spot changes color, sharing that melanoma isn’t just found in places where the sun is exposed.

“Melanoma can be anywhere. It may even be in your digestive tract. It may be in your eyes. It can be in your mouth,” she said. “So you want to take your oral exams, clean your teeth. Sometimes, if you have a place there, it will be found there.

It is also important to avoid strong UV rays to protect your skin.

“Some people don’t think of UV light only when exposed to the sun. You know you are getting those UV rays from the sun. Ultraviolet lights, whether it’s tanning beds or going to places with UV light. To get out in the sun, you have to avoid the midday sun, which we say between noon and around 4 p.m., ”she said.

Also, when applying sunscreen, she added that it’s important to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

“You can still tan while in the sun with your sunscreen on. It’s just blocking out harmful rays. I think that’s something people don’t know is you can still tan but protect yourself,” she said.

Deaton also said she doesn’t recommend tanning oil, but if you choose to use it, apply it over your sunscreen.

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