A great tan is NOT worth dying for!

Melanoma is a potentially deadly form of skin cancer, linked to indoor tanning and to blistering sunburns in early years of life. People with large numbers of moles or family history of melanoma are also at higher risk. While highly curable if caught early, once the disease has spread beyond the skin, cure is unlikely. Sun protection and sun avoidance are good preventative strategies.

Melanoma can look like an abnormal or enlarging mole. Lesions with Asymmetry (one side not matching the other), Border irregularity, Color irregularity, Diameter greater than 6 mm, or Evolving (changing) lesions, need to be checked by a dermatologist. Beginning at age 18, yearly skin exams by a dermatologist can identify suspicious skin lesions early, when treatment can have the highest degree of success. 

Besides melanoma, excessive ultraviolet light exposure, including tanning beds, can contribute to wrinkles, irregular and blotchy skin pigmentation, and skin cancers such as basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. While not as deadly as melanoma, these non-melanoma skin cancers require surgery which can leave unattractive scarring of the skin.

Many people treat their automobiles with more care and respect than they treat their bodies. You can get a new car, but you can't get a new body! It's wise to start taking care of your body while you are young so it will look good and serve you well into old age. 

Remember the ABCDE's of melanoma! The life you save may be your own.

Denise L. Puthuff, M.D.