Summer is primarily a time of relaxation, energy, joy and lots of sports activities. However, we must not forget that the sun's rays, in addition to their beneficial effects on our body and soul, also bring many inconveniences to our skin, even diseases of varying degrees.
From irritation, burns, allergic reactions to the sun to the most insidious disease, which is dangerous malignant melanoma, or skin cancer. Its insidiousness lies in the fact that it often does not hurt, does not make itself known at all, and yet it is among the fastest-spreading cancers of the human body.
If you have even the slightest suspicion that one of your "birthmarks" is changing size, color, itching, swelling, redness, bleeding or becoming asymmetrical, has irregular, fuzzy, ragged edges, see a dermatologist immediately. He or she will examine and diagnose not only the suspicious mole, but also all others on your entire body using a handheld dermatoscope or digital videodermatoscope. At the dermatovenerology clinic PLK ProCare, Bratislava (Central), I regularly examine each of my patients with dermatoscopy at least once a year.
If a patient has any suspicion that something is wrong with their mole outside of the regular preventive dermatological examination, they are examined urgently - immediately. All you need to do is call to make an appointment for the exact time you specify.
Malignant melanoma begins very inconspicuously with the changes already mentioned. These changes may, but may not always be a manifestation of a malignant tumor. Do not be in doubt and have a suspicious mole examined immediately by a dermatologist who will recognize structural, color, vascular and other changes in the mole. If the dermatologist determines that there is a real risk of malignant melanoma, the skin formation will be removed immediately with a protective edge on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. It will then be sent for a final histological examination, in which a specialized histopathologist will definitively exclude or confirm the diagnosis of malignant melanoma as quickly as possible. As with any disease, regular and rapid prevention is most important in this case, especially since melanoma spreads very easily and quickly to the lymph nodes, which subsequently worsens its prognosis. It responds only minimally to treatment in the late stages. That's why I recommend that you have all your moles examined by a dermatologist at least once a year, not only for adults, but also for children from the age of 3.
Finally, let me remind you of a few useful tips on how to sunbathe properly:
1. During the summer, avoid sun exposure between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., as UV radiation reaches its maximum at this time.
2. Protect yourself from the sun even when you are in the shade and even when the sky is cloudy, because clouds transmit more than 80% of UV radiation. In the shade, approximately 50% of ultraviolet radiation can reach you.
3. Children under 3 years of age should not be exposed to direct sunlight. When on vacation, choose morning and early evening hours, and don't forget to protect your children's skin from UVA and UVB rays. Always choose products specifically designed for children's skin.
4. Only tan after applying a cream with a protection factor of at least SPF 15 and higher, according to your phototype and skin type. Always choose a cream that states SPF (UVB) protection, but also UVA (PPD) protection. Buy the listed products at a pharmacy. It is not realistic to produce a quality protective product for a few cents.
5. Don't forget to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.
6. After swimming, dry yourself and reapply sunscreen. During continuous tanning, reapply every 3 hours.
7. Mountains are just as dangerous as the sea, and the above rules must be followed even during mountain trips.
Dr. Renata Kurisova
Dermatovenerology clinic
for children and adults
Aesthetic and corrective dermatology
PLK ProCare, Jelačičova 7,
Bratislava (Central)