How often do I need to be seen for skin cancer prevention?
Dr. Moy says it really depends on risk factors like:
� Having a family history of skin cancer
� Having a history childhood sunburns
� Having fair skin and/or freckles
� Having lots of moles
So, if you are at a high risk, then you should go see your dermatologist twice a year. However, even if you're not, it doesn't hurt to get regular yearly checkups. And no matter how few or many risk factors you have, you should always be hyper-aware of your body and anything that looks unusual on your skin. Take this quiz to see if that mole you've been perplexed about might be cancer.
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If I have a dysplastic mole (AKA atypical or abnormal) will it turn into cancer?
Not necessarily, says Dr. Moy, but be sure to look for new spots or anything that changes or evolves. And while the general rule of thumb when looking for suspicious moles is all about ABCD (asymmetry, border, color, diameter) -- he enlightens us with "E" (which is for evolving). He adds that it's important to look for what he calls the "ugly duckling" mole -- in other words, the one that stands out and looks different from the others. For example, if you're pink and freckly and have a black dot on your back amid the freckles � run, don't walk, to your derm's office.
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How many abnormal moles should I have biopsied? And does it really decrease my chances of getting skin cancer?
If you're mole-y and/or at high risk for skin cancer, chances are you've had some spots removed. And while some dermatologists are biopsy-happy and fare on the cautious side, interestingly enough, Dr. Moy says it doesn't necessary decrease your chances of getting skin cancer. This is because skin cancer typically arises from new moles -- not pre-existing ones.
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Are the products I'm using at home okay to use along with the products and/or procedures that you gave me?
Basically, you want to make sure that your at-home regimen and the products and/or procedures that your derm give you work together -- not against each other.
So, if your dermatologist has given you topical and/or oral medication, or if you have been given a procedure, make sure you let him/her know what you're using at home. For example, some acne treatments make your skin extra sensitive to the sun, so you want to make sure you're using sunscreen along with it. Or if you received something like microdermabrasion at the your derm's office, then you want to make sure to not be using an exfoliating face wash at home too soon after -- since you would be over-exfoliating your skin.
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Is there anything I can incorporate into my diet to help my skin?
As we mentioned before, minimizing your sugar and dairy intake may help prevent acne, plus eating a variety of fruits and veggies in a rainbow of colors will not only make your skin look better, but you're also get anti-aging and anti-cancer benefits too, says Dr. Moy. Plus a diet chock full of antioxidants helps prevent all cancers, namely skin cancers, and these seven vitamins will make you look younger.
It's no secret that there's room for improvement in our health care system and our approach to wellness. The worst is when you go to the doctor's office and get rushed out of there -- totally forgetting to ask all of the burning questions you meant to ask (that is, if you're fortunate enough to have heath insurance). We would like to help you out in the skin care department, so that next time you go see your dermatologist, you'll be savvier and know all the right things to ask. And if you've never seen a dermatologist, you should consider going to one to maximize the health and beauty of your skin. See the 11 questions you should ask your dermatologist now.
We picked the brain of Dr. Ronald Moy, who is Board Certified in Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery with 25 years of experience under his belt. He is President-Elect of the American Academy of Dermatology and his practice is located in The Rodeo Collection in Beverly Hills, Calif. Here he shares the top questions you should ask your dermatologist at your next visit. He covers all of the inquires you should make in regards to the all-consuming beauty dilemma of acne -- to the self-preservation distress of aging skin -- to the more serious concern of skin cancer. And to save you a trip to the derm, if you can't get to one (and because we can't help it), we're going to answer the questions for you -- in a general sense anyway -- which will help you yield beautiful, healthy skin.
To get a leg up on your skin's health, check out some of these other skin-related stories:
