Upclose Magazine (July 2007)
Preventing Skin Cancer Dr. Sherry Ingraham (Novick)

Story by Sarah Warburton

You could be putting yourself in danger daily...without even knowing it! One million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed annually...it's the leading cause of cancer in the United States. Dr. Sherry Novick of Advanced Dermatology wants you to know, "Annual full body exams by a board-certified dermatologist can catch problems early when they're easily treatable."

The bad news? Melanoma can be deadly...but the good news? Skin cancer due to sun exposure is largely preventable. Use sunscreen daily and seek shade during the highest sun hours from 10-4. Even Hollywood stars have turned to spray-on tans for the bronzed summer look. After all, tanning beds increase the risk of melanoma by 75%. Just remember...everyone needs an annual evaluation by a dermatologist!

Maybe you're thinking, "Hey, I don't go to the beach, I don't sunbathe, I'm fine." You walk to the mailbox, don't you, or to your car, maybe out to get the paper? Everyday sun exposure adds up, even on a cloudy day. Dr. Novick [Ingraham] says, "The most important advice I can give is: apply sunscreen daily. Get up, brush your teeth, and put on your daily moisturizer with sunscreen..abroad spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen SPF15 or higher."

Suffering just one blistering sunburn in childhood greatly increases the risk of melanoma. Children should learn to put on sunscreen daily and reapply often when swimming or playing. Dr. Novick [Ingraham] says, "So many patients wish they had known when they were young what we know now about how damaging and aging sun is." Protect your kids and bring them to Advanced Dermatology to have their moles evaluated by Dr. Novick [Ingraham].

Think it couldn't happen to you? One patient, Gina says, "My personal trainer noticed a spot on the back of the neck. She recommended I get it checked out. I went to a couple of doctors who said it looked fine, but I was still worried. A friend of mine had been told some spots were fine, and down the line she had to have them cut out. Mine just didn't feel like it would heal and it was itchy, it even started spontaneously bleeding. Finally, I went to Dr. Novick [Ingraham]. She did a biopsy and found it was cancer."

Gina may not have felt lucky then, but now she realizes how fortunate she was. She says, "Dr. Novick [Ingraham] had to make a 3-inch incision to remove the cancer, it ran pretty deep. If it had it been caught earlier, it wouldn't have been so bad. And if I had just had the spot removed with a laser, my cancer might not have been caught. " Advanced Dermatology does offer cosmetic services to resurface the skin and reverse sun damage, but health is more than skin deep. Dr. Novick's [Ingraham] a board-certified dermatologist with a special interest in cosmetic and surgical dermatology.

Her expert medical advice? Do a monthly self-skin-exam yourself and pay special attention to new and pay special attention to new and changing spots. Can't remember one month to the next? Use your digital camera to track changes, and when you see something worrisome...come see a board certified dermatologist like Dr. Novick and get it tested!

Advanced Dermatology and Skin Care, PA
3507 Town Center Blvd, South, 281.980.0166