Even though May is almost over, we’re not done observing Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month! We want everyone to be more aware of this exceedingly common condition and to spread that awareness to family and friends.

To learn more about skin cancer (or to test your current knowledge), take this short quiz. You’ll find the answers below (but no peeking!)

1) Which one of the following is a risk factor for skin cancer?
A. Having relatives who have had skin cancer
B. Having a lot of moles on the body
C. Being fair-skinned
D. All of the above

2) Most skin cancers get cured.
True
False

3) Who is most at risk for skin cancer?
A. Teens
B. Women
C. Men
D. Babies

4) The most dangerous form of skin cancer usually looks like:
A. A red, scaly patch
B. A large red bump
C. A small, shiny mole with a central depression
D. A large, irregular mole

5) Only a doctor can detect skin cancer early — self-exams are a waste of time.
True
False

6) Because you got sunburned, your risk of developing skin cancer has increased.
True
False

7) Skin cancer is definitively diagnosed by:
A. X-ray
B. Visual observation
C. Skin biopsy
D. All of the above

8) What U.S. state has the highest number of skin cancer cases?
A. Hawaii
B. California
C. Arizona
D. Alaska

9) Which country has the highest number of skin cancer cases?
A. Norway
B. United States
C. Australia
D. Greece

10) Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S.
True
False

Answers:

1) D, All of the above

2) True – Most cases of skin cancer are cured, but it is still a major health concern because it affects so many people and if it is melanoma, it is only easily cured if it is detected early.

3) Men – skin cancer is about three times more likely in men than in women.

4) D, a large, irregular mole – Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer and is visible as an irregular mole on the skin. Find out what “irregular” means in this previous post.

5) False – Patients themselves are the first line of defense against the progression of skin cancer, because they can routinely check themselves for abnormal moles or lesions on the skin. *Patients cannot diagnose themselves, however. If something looks suspicious they should have a dermatologist examine it.

6) True – Yes, individual sunburns increase your risk of melanoma, as does everyday sun exposure that doesn’t result in a burn.

7) C, Skin biopsy – Doctors will perform a skin biopsy on any suspicious moles or lesions to conclusively determine if there is cancer. The procedure involves removing a tiny sample of the lesion and sending it to a lab for testing.

8) B, California – Sunny California leads the nation in the number of skin cancer cases; Texas comes in 4th place after Florida and New York.

9) C, Australia – Those with lighter skin are more susceptible to skin cancer, especially when they live in a place that enjoys intense sunshine. Australians suffer the most from skin cancer, as the country was largely settled by those of Irish and English descent.

10) True – Skin cancer accounts for 75 percent of all cancer diagnoses in America.

Thanks for taking the quiz — you’re now a bit more knowledgeable about skin cancer. Feel free to share with friends and family and see how everyone measures up!

And if you need to make an appointment with an Austin dermatologist, look no further than Dr. Zimmet of Zimmet Vein & Dermatology. He has over thirty years experience in the field and can help you get the answers you need about your skin. Contact or call our office today.

You might be under the impression that being in great physical shape will keep you from varicose veins, but sadly this is not the case. While regular exercise might ease the symptoms of varicose veins, good health cannot prevent the onset of vein disease.

Just ask Summer Sanders, the former gold-medal winning Olympic swimmer turned sports commentator and TV show host. Her swimming career waned, but Sanders continued to stay active — especially as a young mother. “Like many moms, my lifestyle requires me to be on my feet constantly. I noticed my legs were heavy and achy after a long day, but I assumed these symptoms were just something I had to deal with,” says Sanders.

She realized she was developing varicose veins — just like her mother. Her mom was a flight attendant who was on her feet for extensive periods of time and suffered from leg pain most of her life. It’s true: heredity is one of the major risk factors of varicose veins. It’s not the only one, though. Other factors include standing or sitting for long periods of time, being pregnant, being overweight or aging.

On her website Rethink Varicose Veins, Sanders points out that varicose veins are not just a cosmetic issue, and that treatment does not have to be mean a scary surgical procedure with lots of downtime. She explains, “My doctor and I decided the best path for me was a minimally-invasive treatment. The procedure was quick and I was back to my regular activities within a short period of time. Now my legs feel great.”

Dr. Zimmet has over 20 years in the field of phlebology and treats patients with the most up-to-date technology in the field. Make an appointment today to have your veins evaluated and discover how vein treatments can bring new life to your legs.

Getting older is both wonderful and challenging. More years behind you means more experience, perspective and wisdom — but it also means dealing with changes in your once-youthful skin. Along with fine lines, wrinkles and age spots, sagging skin is a common sign of aging. But have you ever wondered why skin gets loose and droopy? (And what you can do about it?)

As we age, skin loses its firmness and elasticity. Several factors collide to make this happen:

• Collagen and elastin, your skin’s supportive connective tissue, makes skin look soft and plump. But as we age both decrease in production.
• Muscle tissue starts breaking down and weakening with age.
• Gravity also plays a role. It continually pulls skin down, making it droop a little bit more every year.

Sagging skin can also be attributed to tobacco use, sun damage, genetics or rapid weight loss. While you can’t completely control sagging skin, there are ways to fight it:

• Commit to a healthy diet that feeds your skin as well as your body.
• Protect exposed skin every day, regardless of the weather outside.
• Consider our treatments designed for sagging skin: Ultherapy® and ENDYMED™.

Ultherapy® and ENDYMED™ are non-surgical treatments that are enjoying immense popularity in the cosmetic dermatology world. Would you like to find out how these treatments can lift droopy skin and take a few years (or ten) off your face and neck? Give our office a call to set up a consultation with Dr. Zimmet. Our number is (512) 485-7700.

Sunscreen is a hugely important tool in the fight against the adverse effects of the sun. It even protects against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. But not all sunscreens are created equal. You probably already know that expired sunscreen will do you no good, but you might not be sure how to choose a quality sunscreen.

First, toss last year’s bottles to eliminate any confusion. Then hit the store to find a new one. When you shop, look for the following to make sure your sunscreen choice makes the cut:

SPF 30 or higher: SPF stands for “sun protection factor”, and it indicates the product’s ability to screen or block the sun’s harmful rays. SPF 30 effectively screens 96.7 percent of UVB rays, so stick with that number or higher.

Broad Spectrum: This means the sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays, both of which cause cancer.

Water Resistant: Choose a sunscreen that is water resistant between 40 and 80 minutes. Bear in mind that sunscreens are no longer allowed to say they are “waterproof” or “sweatproof” because it is misleading.

After you’ve found proper sunscreen, you might need a refresher on how and when to apply it. Here are some tips:

• Use enough! About an ounce (a shot glass full) will cover an average adult body. You need to slather it on all exposed areas. Don’t forget about hands, feet, neck and lips!
• Apply sunscreen BEFORE going outdoors or being exposed to sunlight indoors.
• You need to give the product 15 minutes to absorb so it effectively protects skin.
• Reapply after two hours or after swimming or sweating excessively.

One last tip: Don’t wait until summertime to start using sunscreen–it really is a year-round necessity. Some part of you is exposed to the sun’s rays every day — when you’re driving in your car, walking from the parking lot to the grocery store, or even through the windows in your home or at work. So protect yourself before being exposed.

Tired of seeing evidence of sun damage on your skin? Austin-based Zimmet Vein & Dermatology offers peels, fractional resurfacing, microdermabrasion and pulsed light rejuvenation as solutions to the problems caused by sun damage.

Contact our office to set up a consultation and find out which treatment is best for you.

Although it is the most life-threatening form of skin cancer, melanoma is not the only kind of skin cancer that is currently affecting millions in the U.S. and worldwide. To further raise awareness during Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, we’d like to give you a quick rundown of the two most common forms of skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma: This is the most common form of skin cancer — about 8 out of 10 skin cancers are BCC. These cancers typically develop on areas that have had lots of sun exposure, like the head, neck and hands. When you do a self-exam, look for the following:

• Dome-shaped skin growth–often pink or skin-colored.
• Shiny pink or red bumps or patches
• Open sores that bleed easily and won’t heal
• Elevated growth with central depression

BCC’s can take any of these forms. The cancers tend to grow slowly, and they rarely spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body, making them the least dangerous. If basal cell carcinoma does go untreated, though, it can grow into nearby tissues beneath the skin and do damage. It is common for this type of cancer to recur, often within five years of the last one.

Squamous cell carcinoma: This is the second most common form of skin cancer — about 2 out of 10 skin cancers are SCC. These cancers commonly develop on sun-exposed areas, especially the face, lips, ears, neck and backs of hands, but they can also appear inside the mouth and genitals, or begin in scars or actinic keratoses. Look for the following signs of SCC on your skin:

• Rough-feeling bump or lump
• Open sore that won’t heal
• Flat, reddish, scaly patch
• Dome-shaped growth that gets crusty or bleeds

If squamous cell carcinoma is allowed to advance it will spread to lymph nodes and distant parts of the body, causing severe health problems.

The good news is that almost every form of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma can be cured, especially when the cancer is found and treated early. If you have any concerns about a spot or patch on your skin, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with a dermatologist who can assess the spot and perform a skin biopsy.

Your health is worth it. Contact Zimmet Vein & Dermatology today to get started.

What to look for to detect malignant skin cancer:

This month is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so if you have been waiting for some added motivation to get your skin examined by a physician, let that fact be it.

Health organizations all over the country are stepping up efforts to raise the public’s awareness of skin cancer. A large part of the effort is dedicated to encouraging people to get their skin checked out by a dermatologist, and for good reason: the majority of skin cancers are successfully treated when detected early.

Wondering what to expect at your dermatologist’s office during your full-body skin exam? Don’t worry, it’s a short and painless visit, but a very important one. Dermatologists are specially trained to analyze the spots or lesions on your skin, and determine which ones might be cancerous. Expect a head-to-toe visual examination while wearing a hospital gown that will take about 10-15 minutes, depending on how many moles you have. Digital or photographic images of spots may be taken, and if there is a suspicious mole, a biopsy might be performed to confirm or deny the presence of cancer.

To prepare for your skin cancer exam, do the following:

• Perform a self-exam before your appointment and take note of any suspicious looking spots or changing spots on the skin. Report your findings to your doctor.
• Remove nail polish from fingernails and toenails, as skin cancers can form on nails or nail beds and will need to be inspected by the dermatologist.
• Write down any questions you have about preventing or treating skin cancer so you can ask them at the appointment.

Aside from doing your best to stay protected from the sun’s harmful rays, early detection is your best bet against all forms of skin cancer, including melanoma–the deadliest kind.

Need to make your appointment? Contact Zimmet Vein & Dermatology online or give us a call at (512) 485-7700.

Unlike some forms of cancer, melanoma is preventable and highly treatable when caught early. Signs of the cancer are visible on the surface of skin, so the first line of defense against melanoma progression is you. Protect yourself by conducting monthly self-exams to inspect moles and other marks on your body for abnormalities or changes.

To prepare for your self-exam, first find out what to look for by getting familiar with the “ABCDs” of melanoma. If you see any of the following signs, make an appointment with your dermatologist.

Asymmetry: Look for moles that appear different on one half from the other half.

Border: The borders of healthy moles are smooth and defined, not irregular, jagged or blurry.

Color: Look for spots with uneven or intensely dark color. Some can show shades of red, blue or white.

Diameter: Melanomas tend to be larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser or a pea), but they can be smaller.

For the exam find a private, well-lit room and a hand-held mirror. Your goal will be to inspect every inch of your skin from head to toe, as melanoma can develop on any part of the body — even if that part has never been exposed to the sun.

• Check your face, neck, ears and scalp. Use another mirror to check hard-to-see spots.
• Examine arms, including underarms, hands, between fingers and under fingernails.
• Check shoulders, chest and torso. Don’t forget your sides.
• Look over legs and feet, including the soles of feet and the spaces between toes.
• Use the hand mirror to check the back, buttocks and genital area.

If you see anything out of the ordinary, don’t hesitate to make an appointment at Zimmet Vein & Dermatology. The sooner melanoma is detected, the better your chances of full recovery. Contact us today.