The purpose of this week's blog is simple, straight forward, and to the point. It is especially directed at busy (and/or stubborn) people who notice that there is an obvious skin change on their body/face and continue to ignore it or delay medical evaluation. Disclaimer: It is absolutely true that health care professionals are the worst and most stubborn patients--did I mention my Mother and Sister are retired RN's ?
As a FP Doc for 27 years, I have done many hallway consults with people pulling up their shirt or showing me their arm and they say something like this: "Hey Doc, by the way, what do you think of this little red spot or mole, it has been getting bigger, darker or it won't heal for a year now." My response: Heavy sigh!
Really folks, although there are many common non-cancerous age related and sun damage skin changes, it behooves you to get your skin changes evaluated by a professional if you notice a skin lesion is not healing or has irregular borders or increasing darkness. At the very least, your Doc will reassure you and monitor you and the specific area in question or refer you to a Dermatologist or Surgeon for an evaluation and possibly a skin biopsy. Skin biopsies can be a punch biopsy where a little cone of the skin in question is removed or sometimes an excisional biopsy is performed and this is when the whole lesion is removed and sent to be evaluated by the pathologist.
Secondly, if your Doc says it looks benign (not cancer), but then the skin lesion persists/worsens and seems like it is getting darker or becomes more irregular, or if the skin has a crater that just won't heal, GO BACK to your Doctor or get a second opinion.
A few hours of your time getting evaluated, can save you weeks of your time getting treated if indeed you have a problem that you ignore. That's it!
Here's to Good Health & Much Happiness,
Dr. Younger You :)
As a FP Doc for 27 years, I have done many hallway consults with people pulling up their shirt or showing me their arm and they say something like this: "Hey Doc, by the way, what do you think of this little red spot or mole, it has been getting bigger, darker or it won't heal for a year now." My response: Heavy sigh!
Really folks, although there are many common non-cancerous age related and sun damage skin changes, it behooves you to get your skin changes evaluated by a professional if you notice a skin lesion is not healing or has irregular borders or increasing darkness. At the very least, your Doc will reassure you and monitor you and the specific area in question or refer you to a Dermatologist or Surgeon for an evaluation and possibly a skin biopsy. Skin biopsies can be a punch biopsy where a little cone of the skin in question is removed or sometimes an excisional biopsy is performed and this is when the whole lesion is removed and sent to be evaluated by the pathologist.
Secondly, if your Doc says it looks benign (not cancer), but then the skin lesion persists/worsens and seems like it is getting darker or becomes more irregular, or if the skin has a crater that just won't heal, GO BACK to your Doctor or get a second opinion.
A few hours of your time getting evaluated, can save you weeks of your time getting treated if indeed you have a problem that you ignore. That's it!
Here's to Good Health & Much Happiness,
Dr. Younger You :)
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