Skin Cancer (Non-Melanoma) Health Video

Video Transcript

DR. LORETTA CIRALDO: Hi, I'm Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, a Miami Beach dermatologist in practice for nearly 30 years and author of "6 Weeks to Sensational Skin." Many of my patients are surprised when I tell them that skin cancer is the only cancer in America which is both on the rise in frequency and in severity. And basically, what we believe is the cause of this very increased incidence of skin cancer is that the American public has really chosen a much more leisure-oriented lifestyle in the last couple of decades. And in fact, whereas in the 1920s having a suntan often meant that you are an outdoor laborer. These days, having a suntan oftentimes reflects a higher socioeconomic status, and many young people believe that suntan is beautiful. So given our current American culture, we dermatologists ask all Americans, and actually everyone should do this, to perform a once-a-month skin self-exam, and what this involves is looking on your skin for any new or changing growths. And I'd love you to use double mirrors so that you can look at your whole back once a month, look at your front, look at your palms and your soles. Hopefully, doing this, if you see anything that has either changed - I mean that has grown, bled or darkened - then you want to bring this immediately to the attention of your dermatologist, because a newer change in lesion on your skin may represent skin cancer. But the wonderful news about skin cancer is that it's nearly 100% curable if it's diagnosed and treated in the early stages. So please make today the first of your monthly skin self-exams.