{"id":2261,"date":"2026-04-20T06:48:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T06:48:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/?p=2261"},"modified":"2026-04-20T06:51:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T06:51:50","slug":"a-yearly-reminder-that-could-save-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/a-yearly-reminder-that-could-save-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"A Yearly Reminder That Could Save Your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>If this topic feels familiar, that\u2019s intentional. While I\u2019ve shared these insights before, the importance of skin health never expires. Every May, during <a href=\"\/medical\/skin-cancer.html\">Skin Cancer<\/a> <b>Awareness Month<\/b>, I take the opportunity to revisit the causes of skin cancer, the necessity of annual exams, and the latest statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Reality of the Numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skin cancer remains the most common cancer in the United States. In fact, there are more new cases diagnosed each year\u2014over <b>5 million<\/b>\u2014than all other cancers combined. While most cases are linked to intense, episodic ultraviolet (UV) exposure (like a bad sunburn), cumulative, chronic exposure over a lifetime plays an equally significant role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Understanding the Types<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><b>Non-Melanoma (Basal &#038; Squamous Cell Carcinoma)<\/b>: These are the most frequent diagnoses and, while common, are highly treatable when caught early.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>Melanoma<\/b>: This is a more aggressive form of skin cancer. While invasive melanoma accounts for only 1% of skin cancers, it causes the vast majority of skin cancer deaths.\n\n<ul>\n  <li><i>The Good News:<\/i> Mortality rates have improved significantly over the last decade thanks to breakthroughs in treatment and earlier detection.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p><strong>Prevention<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skin cancer is one of the most preventable and curable forms of cancer\u2014if caught early. Interestingly, research shows that <b>women are nine times more likely than men<\/b> to notice suspicious spots on others. If you notice a new or changing lesion on your partner, speak up; that observation could save their life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Are You at Risk?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we age, our risk naturally increases. General risk factors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>UV radiation from sunlight or tanning beds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A weakened immune system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A personal history of precancerous spots or previous skin cancer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><b>For Melanoma specifically<\/b>: A family history of the disease or having more than 50 atypical moles.<\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<p><strong>Essential Protection Tips<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><b>Seek Shade:<\/b> Especially during peak intensity hours between <b>10 AM and 4 PM<\/b>.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><b>Layer Up:<\/b> Wear UV-protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><b>Sunscreen is Non-Negotiable:<\/b> Use a broad-spectrum (UVA\/UVB) SPF 30+ every day. For outdoor activities, bump it up to <b>SPF 50<\/b> and ensure it is water-resistant.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><b>The &#8220;Rule of Two&#8221;:<\/b> Apply <b>one ounce<\/b> (two tablespoons) 30 minutes before going out. Reapply every <b>two hours<\/b>, or immediately after swimming or sweating.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><b>Ditch the Tanning Beds:<\/b> There is no such thing as a &#8220;safe&#8221; tan from a bed.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><b>The Monthly Scan:<\/b> Check your own skin (and your partner&#8217;s) once a month for any &#8220;ugly duckling&#8221; spots or changes.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- \/wp:list --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<p><strong>Your Next Step<\/strong><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Regular exams are the cornerstone of prevention. If it has been more than a year since your last check-up\u2014or if you have a history of skin cancer\u2014it\u2019s time to head to the dermatologist.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Have you noticed a changing spot on your skin? We can help you address skin cancer concerns at Florida\u2019s <a href=\"\/\">Skin Wellness Physicians<\/a>. Patients from Marco Island, Naples, and beyond can call us at <a href=\"tel:+12397320044\">(239) 732-0044<\/a> or contact us to <a href=\"\/contact-us\/contact-us.html\">schedule a consultation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If this topic feels familiar, that\u2019s intentional. While I\u2019ve shared these insights before, the importance of skin health never expires. Every May, during Skin Cancer Awareness Month, I take the opportunity to revisit the causes of skin cancer, the necessity of annual exams, and the latest statistics. The Reality of the Numbers Skin cancer remains &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/a-yearly-reminder-that-could-save-your-life\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;A Yearly Reminder That Could Save Your Life&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2261","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-skin-cancer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2261","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2261"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2261\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2264,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2261\/revisions\/2264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2261"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2261"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.skinwellnessflorida.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2261"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}