By Dr. Colleen Sholar

Summer is upon us and the rain and clouds are about to leave. We encourage everyone to go outside and breath the fresh air, hike the hills or enjoy the woods. But, remember that the sunny outdoors is a risk to your skin. UV radiation and the cumulative damage of these exposures increase the risk for skin cancers. There are 3 types of skin cancer – melanoma, basal cell and squamous cell cancer. We can’t avoid all risk, but to reduce the risk consider wearing sunscreen and applying this frequently especially if you are in the water or sweating a lot, wear clothing with a UV protective rating or at least a light colored loose fitting layer, wear a hat preferably one that shades the ears.
If you do have a question about a skin lesion, please schedule a visit with your provider. Warning signs include- a lesion that keeps scabbing up and not healing; a mole that is getting bigger, changing colors or irregular in shape or coloration; anything with a horn, or anything that is new and not going away. We treat skin lesions differently but it should be evaluated and you can discuss your options.