Page 124 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2025

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Listen up sun worshipers. The most recent statistics for skin cancer are scary.
Angela Wingfield, M.D. and CEO
of The Dermatology Clinic, points to an increase in skin cancer in the U.S. “Melanoma incidence increased 320 percent from 1975 to 2018, Basal Cell Carcinoma incidence increased 145 percent when comparing the periods 1976-1984 and 2000-2010, Squamous Cell Carcinoma incidence increased 263 percent in that same time period.”
Age 55 and greater has the most skin cancer, but it’s all about cumulative UV exposure and skin type. “It generally takes someone 55 years to get enough DNA damage from UV exposure to start growing skin cancers,” the doctor says. “This cumulative dose can be reached faster if they are fair-skinned and had lots of unprotected sun exposure. This
is why we encourage routine use of sunscreen and sun protective clothing, hats, shade-seeking behavior, and limiting mid day outdoor activities. The
story by Lynn Lofton
goal is to lower your overall cumulative
UV dose.”
There are some signs that mean
medical advice should be sought. “A bump with sudden onset that bleeds easily or won’t heal,” Wingfield
says. “A changing mole that has ill- defined borders, more than one color represented and areas of pigment loss.”
If a non-healing/scabbed bump is present more than six weeks, have it checked, she advises. Also, if a mole starts changing colors, growing rapidly, or bleeding spontaneously, have it checked. “If you feel very sharp scaly bumps in areas of high exposure like the face, ears, forearms, tops of the hands, see a dermatologist,” she added. “These may be pre-cancerous growths.”
It’s no secret that the sun is a culprit, but Wingfield says there other factors contributing to skin cancer. “A suppressed immune system prevents your body from fighting off the misbehaving cancer cells – people with organ
transplants on anti-rejection drugs, patients with autoimmune diseases on medications that suppress inflammation, people on cancer treatments.”
There also might be a genetic predisposition to skin cancer such as a first-degree relative with Melanoma, Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome, some other genetic syndromes, radiation exposure (accidental, occupational, or as treatment for another cancer) arsenic exposure (contaminated well water, unapproved home-made medications).
Ashley Butsch, spokeswoman for Singing River Hospital, notes some additional advice. “The skin is the body’s largest organ, serving as a protective barrier against external threats. However, it’s also susceptible to various conditions, including skin lesions and moles. While some are harmless, others can pose significant health risks. Understanding the importance of skin protection is crucial in preventing and managing these concerns.”
124 | June 2025
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Basal Cell Carcinoma
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Melanoma