At Cumberland Skin Surgery and Dermatology, we bring years of expertise and care to your skin’s health—including the treatment of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers. Estimates vary on its occurrence but it is estimated that approximately 700,000 Americans develop skin cancer every year.
Sun avoidance is the best defense against skin cancer.
The principal cause of skin cancer is almost universally accepted by medical experts to be overexposure to sunlight, especially when it results in sunburn and blistering. Other less important factors would include repeated medical and industrial x-ray exposure, scarring from diseases or burns, occupational exposure to such compounds as coal and arsenic, and family history.
Prevention is a matter of guarding the skin against the known causes. Since the sun and its ultraviolet rays would seem to be the main culprit, the most effective preventive method is sun avoidance. Limit the exposure of the skin to harmful rays by covering up and using sunscreens with at least a 15 SPF rating.
Early detection is the surest way to a cure.