About Your Skin
Your skin is a big deal. Literally. Your skin is the largest organ of your body and the average person's skin covers an area of 2 square meters. When you think about your organs, usually internal organs like your kidneys, liver or heart come to mind. However, your skin is your largest organ and its #1 job is to protect against external factors from your internal organs. It also helps regulate your body temperature and protects your muscles and bones. Some skin conditions might seem mild, while others could interfere with your everyday activities, or even become life-threatening. Regular skin checks by a board-certified dermatologist can save your life.
Reasons to See a Dermatologist
Your skin changes as you age, so it is important to take care of it during every stage of life. Dermatologists provide care and treatment options to improve the look, feel and health of your skin. Schedule an appointment with a provider to discuss any concerns and preventive measures to protect your skin.
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We offer a variety of non-surgical, cosmetic treatments and medical grade products to fulfill your skincare needs. Our trusted team of board-certified dermatologists, physician assistants and licensed esthetician, are well-trained to treat problematic skin conditions and perform services to help restore your self-confidence.
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What I love most about my job is making people feel better about all aspects of their skin health. Since the skin is our largest organ, it affects everything from our self-esteem to our ability to sleep at night. - Kathryn Lane, MD, FACMS
What is Mohs Surgery?
Also called Mohs micrographic surgery, it is a unique procedure to treat skin cancer, where the mohs surgeon can see where the cancer stops. Mohs surgery allows you to keep as much healthy skin as possible because the provider removes the skin with cancer cells. Mohs surgery can be safely performed in-office at Christie Clinic.
What is Melanoma?
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It can be referred to as the "most serious skin cancer" because it can spread from the skin to the other parts of the body. When detected early, it can be treated effectively. The key to finding melanoma early is to perform skin self-exams to check for the signs or changes on your skin. If you have areas of concern or would like to schedule an annual skin check, make an appointment online or contact our Christie Clinic Department of Dermatology.
Know the ABCDEs of Melanoma:
- A: asymmetry – Most melanomas are not symmetrical. Imagine a line down the center of a mole – do the two sides match? If not, it’s time to talk to your primary care provider or a dermatologist.
- B: borders irregular – Melanoma borders are often uneven with scalloped or notched edges. These require the attention of a medical provider.
- C: color changes or different colors within the mole – Non-cancerous moles and lesions will be uniform in color, both over time and throughout the lesion itself. Moles that are different colors, or change color over time should be examined.
- D: diameter greater than 6 mm (pencil eraser) – The best time to detect and treat melanoma is early on when it is small so moles that are large – or have grown larger – need to be brought to the attention of your medical provider.
- E: elevation/evolving- Any mole that changes in size, shape or color or starts to bleed, hurt or itch should be looked at by a medical provider right away and biopsied if concerning.
Early detection is key. If you notice any of these ABCDEs in any of your moles, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist.
How is Melanoma Treated?
A patient who has melanoma will often have surgery to remove all of the cancer. The type of surgery will depend on the type and depth of the melanoma, as well as the location on the body. The type of treatment you receive depends on the following:
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How deeply the melanoma has grown into your skin
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Whether the cancer has spread to another part of your body
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Your overall health