Written By, Chris Bauer MD

In 2021, an astounding 106,110 people were diagnosed with melanoma in the United States. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It affects men at a greater rate than women and Caucasian people are affected at 20 times the rate of African American people. The average age of someone being diagnosed with melanoma is 65. However, there are significantly larger amounts of younger people getting Melanoma every year. Children and adolescents have also been diagnosed with this deadly form of skin cancer. 

The typical appearance of a melanoma is one of a pigmented spot almost resembling a freckle. Many times, that lesion can be raised and have an irregular border. The lesions can be exceedingly small sometimes only a few millimeters wide. If a skin lesion is crusting or bleeding frequently it may be melanoma. Melanomas can develop on nail bed surfaces or on the surface of the cornea in the eye.  Most melanomas spread superficially and then invade to deeper layers of tissue. Melanomas that occur on the face, head, and trunk have a worse prognosis then melanomas that are located on the lower parts of the body. Due to its aggressive nature melanoma can spread or metastasize to any organ in the body.

If an abnormal skin lesion is detected, then a person should either go to dermatologist or a primary care physician to have a full evaluation of the mass. At the doctor’s office, the physician will then do a thorough exam of all the skin areas especially the one in question. A skin biopsy will then be collected if the skin lesion is suspicious for either a cancerous or precancerous condition.  Treatment for early-stage melanoma will most likely include removal of the affected area with some surrounding normal tissue around it. More extensive surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation are other treatments that are used to treat more advanced disease.

People who are more at risk for melanoma should be completing regular self-skin exams. A small portion of melanomas are genetic and are present in one or more members of an extended family. People who have light skin complexion and light eye color are also at a higher risk.  Those with many freckles or nevi on their body have increased rates of melanoma too. Use of tanning beds, frequent sun exposure and history of frequent sunburns during childhood and adolescence are other risks associated with developing melanoma. 

Prevention of melanoma and skin cancer is one of the many preventative health measures that physicians in New jersey believe in strongly. Melanoma patient education campaigns have been taking place in the US since the 1990’s. These campaigns have been used to instruct younger people especially in the ways that they can reduce their risk of getting skin cancer and melanoma. Sun protection is one of the biggest ways people can reduce their risk of melanoma. SPF 15 should be applied to the skin during everyday use and SPF 30 sunscreen should be used during more prolonged sun exposures. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 2 hours and whenever you are going to do an outdoor activity. Use of protective hats, sunglasses and sun protective clothing are other ways to reduce the damaging effects of the sun. Daily avoidance of the sun’s most damaging rays between 10am and 4pm is also especially important. People should also avoid getting sunburned at all costs.  Lastly, indoor tanning bed use should be avoided. Those that have used indoor tanning beds especially in their early adulthood have a significant risk of developing melanomas compared to those who have never used a tanning bed. Spray tans and other cosmetic purchases can be used to create the “suntanned” look without having to take on the significant risk from the tanning beds.

The month of May has been designated Melanoma Awareness Month. With spring in full bloom, let us remember our sunscreen and protective clothing and lets all stay safe in the sun!