As we immerse ourselves in St. Patrick’s Day and the start of (hopefully) a sunnier season, I think of 4 leaf clovers, pots of gold, shamrock shakes, lots of green and it wouldn’t be St. Patty’s without our friendly leprechaun.
When I think of a leprechaun, I picture a light skinned, friendly fellow with red hair, loads of freckles and a thick Irish accent—a poster child for who most people think would be at risk for skin cancer. Yes, it is true that fairer skin means you produce less of the pigment called melanin. And darker skin produces more melanin which does help protect skin — but only to a certain extent. People of color can still get sunburned, and they can also develop skin cancer from UV damage. A July 2016 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed that skin cancer is actually more deadly in people of color because it is often diagnosed at later stages.
Some people think that because they are of a darker complexion that this conversation doesn’t not apply to them, but that is absolutely false thinking. Skin cancer can happen to anyone of any skin tone! Don’t be fooled by thinking that just because you are a person of color like myself that you are immune.
My grandmother is the cutest little 92-year-old Indian woman (pictured here with my daughter) that you’ll ever meet and she was of this pattern of thinking. She had a small, rather inconspicuous mole on her nose that over the past few years has quickly changed in size, color and elevation. A long full life of farming on her rubber plantation and soaking up the sun (without any sunscreen) has put her at higher risk. Because the lesion is on her face, it was much easier to detect and note these changes because folks are looking at her face daily. It’s the first thing you notice about a person! Lesions on your feet, however, are often neglected because let’s face it, it may not be an area you are examining closely on a regular basis.
So look for the ABCDE’s of skin cancer (malignant melanoma)
(1) Asymmetry– any lesion in which one half does not match the other half.
(2) Borders– the edges are notched, blurred or irregular.
(3) Color variation– The color (pigmentation) is not uniform. Shades of tan, brown, and black are present. Dashes of red, white, and blue may also be seen.
(4) Diameter: If it is greater than 6mm (or roughly the size of a pencil eraser)
(5) Evolution: If there is a change in the size, shape, elevation or symptoms associated with the lesion (increased itchiness, crusting or ulceration)
If one or more of these characteristics describes your foot lesion, come get it checked out—sometimes it’s as simple performing a small skin biopsy same day in the office which typically heals within the week to catch a melanoma before it spreads! And remember—you can’t always count on the luck of the Irish!
Dr. Stephanie Varghese specializes in podiatric dermatology. If you have a concern, gives us a call at 484-681-9485 and let Dr. Varghese check you out!
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