Protecting your skin doesn’t just mean wearing sunscreen and yearly checkups. It also includes understanding the risks of skin cancer, recognizing changes early, and knowing where to turn when something doesn’t look or feel quite right.
At Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center, we see firsthand how knowledge empowers our patients to take control of their skin health with confidence and peace of mind. And if you ever reach the point where professional treatment becomes necessary, our team specializes in removing skin cancer in Kansas City, KS, with precision, expertise, and the highest standard of care.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through what can increase the risk of skin cancer, the steps you can take to protect yourself, and how you can assess a growth at home.
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
There are 2 primary risk factors for skin cancer: hereditary risk and sun exposure. Understanding them can help you take meaningful, manageable steps toward protecting your skin.
- Heredity: Some people are born with traits that make them more susceptible to skin cancer. If someone in your family has had skin cancer, or if you’ve had it yourself in the past, your risk may be higher. Stay proactive with routine check-ins and mindful care to prevent or diagnose early for the most effective treatment.
- Exposure to UV Rays: For most people, UV exposure is the biggest day-to-day risk factor. While we can’t avoid the sun completely, its rays can damage the skin over time.
Everyday Habits to Help Protect Your Skin
While you can’t change your genetic risk factors, there’s real comfort in knowing that small, consistent habits can make a big difference in protecting your skin.
Daily sun protection remains one of the most effective ways to lower your risk of skin cancer. This means applying sunscreen every morning, even on cloudy days, and choosing lightweight clothing that covers your skin when you’re outdoors.
Along with daily sun protection, scheduling yearly skin checks with a dermatologist offers another layer of prevention, especially if skin cancer runs in your family. These short visits help experts detect changes long before they become serious.
Skin Cancer Signs & Early Detection
Skin cancer is a cancer you can see. Unlike cancers that develop inside the body, skin cancer forms on the outside and is usually visible. Stay proactive by knowing how to monitor suspicious spots with the ABCDE method for assessing growths.
A helpful evaluation tool, the ABCDE method, outlines the common warning signs of melanoma.
Each letter points to a feature that may indicate a spot needs a closer look:
- A is for “asymmetry.” One-half of the growth doesn’t match the other.
- B is for “border.” The growth is uneven or has blurred edges.
- C is for “color.” It has multiple colors.
- D is for “diameter.” This is when the growth is larger than a pencil eraser.
- E is for “evolving.” Any noticeable change in size, shape, color, texture, or symptoms, like itching or scabbing.
By becoming familiar with these signs, you actively protect your long-term health and understand when you need to remove skin cancer in Kansas City, KS.
Get Support for Every Step of Your Skin Journey
Staying proactive about your skin health is one of the most powerful ways to protect yourself. By understanding the signs of skin cancer and knowing when to seek guidance for skin growth removal, you’re already taking meaningful steps toward early detection and long-term wellness.
At Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center, offer advanced care along with the reassurance and clarity that our patients need when concerns arise.
If you ever need help removing skin cancer in Kansas City, KS, you can trust that you’re in experienced hands.
Schedule a skin check with our team. Take a confident step toward protecting your skin and your peace of mind for years to come.
