No matter the weather, time of year, or place, we’re always protected by one thing – our skin. It’s the human body’s largest organ and, with Melanoma being the third most common cancer found in Australians, it is vital that each and every one of us knows what it is, what makes it tick and how to take care of it.
Let’s investigate some of the things you should probably know.
The basics
Your skin is the body’s largest organ and comprises 3 distinct layers with distinct functions – the epidermis (top layer), dermis (middle layer) and the hypodermis (bottom layer). Working together, these layers create a barrier between what’s inside your body and the outside world, to protect you from ultraviolet (UV) rays, viruses, bacteria, chemicals, dehydration and other potential dangers in the external environment.
Skin type
The type of skin you have impacts how you need to take care of it. Broadly speaking, a person’s skin type falls somewhere on a spectrum, from dry to normal, sensitive or oily, or a combination. Dry skin, for example, will require more of a hydration-focused regimen than oily skin. With sensitive and normal skin needing their own separate care strategies.
When it comes to melanoma, you want to be aware of where you fall on the Fitzpatrick scale to understand your risk level. You can be scored by your GP or complete a quiz at home!
Sun safety
Exposure to UV rays damages the DNA in skin cells. Of course, your skin is able to regenerate and handle most of this damage, however, subjecting your skin to prolonged periods of sunlight does increase your chances of developing skin cell abnormalities, and sometimes cancer. For these reasons, it’s recommended that you ‘slip, slop, slap’ and apply sunscreen whenever you know you’re going to be exposed to the sun.
Early detection
Sadly, according the Cancer Council, “two in three Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70 and 2000 Australians die of skin cancer each year”. Catching abnormalities early is the key to avoiding surgery or more severe consequences. Making sure you spend a bit of time each week, checking your skin for new spots or changes to existing freckles or moles could help you save your own life. Precautionary and preventative measures such as regular self-skin checks, GP visits and mole-mapping technology can help mitigate these risks.
Mole-mapping technology
As part of our commitment to skin health here at The Bennelong Medical Clinic, we have specialised GPs who we like to call the Bennelong Skin Doctors! Dr Patrick Khoury has many years of experience and specialist education in skin conditions, checks and procedures meaning he is able to complete complex skin procedures which are rarely available in general practice. Dr Jaiti Khosla has undergone specialist education in dermoscopy and currently a Masters of Medicine with a focus in Skin Cancer during her many years focusing on skin in general practice. The Bennelong Skin Doctors utilise state-of-the-art mole-mapping technology to identify and track any changes in your skin. Utilising high-resolution digital imaging, this skin cancer screening technology provides an incredibly accurate and effective means of identifying melanoma in its very early stages. The process takes under an hour to perform, is non-invasive and is completely painless, so there’s no excuse to avoid your next skin check.
If you’re unsure about your skin health or you know a skin check is overdue, please don’t hesitate to contact us.