3 Surprising Areas Where Skin Cancer Can Develop
Most people are excited about being able to take advantage of warmer weather by getting outside more and wearing lighter clothes—but don’t forget that along with sweatier skin, hyperpigmentation, and acne flare-ups, another problem associated with sun exposure is skin cancer. Our Westlake Village practice reminds patients to shield their skin from the damaging effects of UV rays that could lead to both cosmetic and medical issues. Take precautions such as wearing SPF 30 sunscreen each day (even when it’s cloudy or hazy), wearing protective clothing, and seeking shade during peak hours for sunlight.
The problem is that ultraviolet radiation penetrates the skin and can damage cells there, causing them to grow abnormally. While people with very fair skin and eyes have a higher risk of getting skin cancer, everyone is susceptible to the disease regardless of skin tone or ethnicity.
Many people know that cancer is likely to develop on parts of the skin that are exposed to sunlight—such as the face and arms—but it can also show up elsewhere on the body. Here are some potentially surprising areas where skin cancer can develop.
The Soles of the Feet
Since the bottoms of your feet will hardly ever be exposed to the light of day, we don’t really assume that skin cancer could be found there—but it is possible. It’s more likely for viruses, inherited conditions, or other factors to be the main cause of skin cancer on the soles of the feet as opposed to UV rays, but lesions can develop down there, nonetheless.
The Eyelids
Many people forget to apply sunscreen around the eyes but unfortunately since the skin is so thin here, it’s very vulnerable to UV radiation. Practice slathering on protective sunscreen in a way that keeps the skin safe but doesn’t get into the sensitive organs to cause irritation.
Under Your Nails
Don’t neglect your nails when you’re checking your skin for unusual marks or blemishes. What you assume is an injury to your nail could possibly be a dangerous lesion. Skin cancer beneath the fingernails or toenails typically looks like a randomly occurring dark streak across the nail.
If you’re concerned about a spot on your skin—whether on the bottom of your foot or visible beneath your thumbnail—it’s always best to have it looked at by a dermatologist. Get to know more about how to identify suspicious lesions and lower your skin cancer risk from Pierre Skin Care Institute. Call 805-496-9190 to reach out to us or submit a contact form and request a consultation.
