Distinctly Montana Magazine

d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • w i n t e r 2 0 1 5 68 Sun ExPoSurE Can affECt your hEalth. If you SPot a MolE or SuSPICIouS SKIn CondItIon what StEPS do you taKE to dIagnoSE and trEat a CondItIon that May BE PrE-CanCErouS or MElanoMIC? wolPoE: We take a good history during our initial con- sultation, which focuses on sun exposure as well as a history of skin cancer. The patient is examined to make sure there are no suspicious lesions. If we see a suspi- cious lesion we will often biopsy it. KutSCh: A skin biopsy is critical to confirm a diagnosis and to be able to customize a treatment plan just for you. The skin biopsy is performed during your office visit, using local anesthesia. During the biopsy, a piece of tissue from the lesion will be removed. The growth will later be examined under a microscope. If the diag- nosis is pre-cancer or skin cancer, a treatment plan will be devised for you based on the specific characteristics of the growth, its location on your body, and your overall health. In addition to excising (cutting out) the abnormal tissue, other treatment options for some lesions include creams, pills, targeted light therapy (known as photodynamic therapy), cryosurgery, or Mohs micrographic surgery. A treatment plan will be tailored to your specific needs. PrEvEntIon: othEr than thE dISCIPlInEd uSE of a good qual- Ity Sun BloCK, do you havE othEr tIPS or SuggEStIonS on how to allEvIatE Sun-rElatEd SKIn daMagE? KutSCh: Add a hat, mittens and sunglasses, and wear a daily sunscreen on exposed skin even on winter days. Snow reflects up to 80% of the sun's rays, causing sun- burn and sun damage to uncovered skin. At our high altitudes, there is less atmosphere to block the damag- ing rays from the sun. So extra care is needed when enjoying winter recreation. Don't seek vitamin D from the sun or tanning beds. The amount of Vitamin D your body will generate is highly variable, and may not keep your levels consistent through the year. Seek vitamin D from foods or supplements as more reliable sources of the vitamin; you skip the risks of skin cancer and premature aging of the skin that way. wolPoE: We recommend use of good skin care products, many of which we have available in our cosmetics store and also tretinoin or retinol products.

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