Sunburned Feet Can Lead to Skin Cancer

It’s that time of year again! Lots of my Facebook friends are posting pictures with sunburned feet! Seems like no one ever remembers to apply sunscreen on their feet. Sandal season exposes our often lily white feet to way too much sun exposure. So what about a little sun on your feet? Well, even though skin cancer on your feet is rare, it is often nasty and pretty deadly! Protect your feet with sun screen or you may regret it!

Not all brown or pink skin spots are melanomas, and they are rarely in the feet; but when they are, they are usually nasty! Melanoma is a cancer that begins in the cells of the skin that produce pigment or color. It is often called malignant melanoma because it spreads to other parts of the body as it grows beneath the surface of the skin. Unlike many other cancers, it can strike at any age.

Melanoma that occurs in the foot often goes unnoticed during the earliest stage, when it would be more easily treated. By the time melanoma of the foot is diagnosed, it has frequently progressed to an advanced stage and is quite deadly. Early detection is the key to decreasing the death rate from melanoma.

Who is at risk of melanoma? All of us, but certain factors can make you more at risk: fair skin, especially with freckles, blond or red hair, blistering sunburns before the age of 18, and numerous moles. (Sounds like my entire family, especially the red-head!)

What should I look for? Melanoma usually looks like a brown or black spot on the skin or even under or near the toenails, but occasionally it can be red, pink or even white.

Melanoma symptoms are known as "ABCD".
A: Asymmetry, meaning abnormal and uneven shape;
B: Border irregularity meaning it looks like it had a ragged or blurred edge;
C: Color, usually a mix of colors instead of uniform throughout; and
D: Diameter, melanoma is usually getting bigger where a mole stays about the same. If you have any of these symptoms or a dark spot under your toenail that wasn’t caused by banging or dropping something on your toe, call or contact the office immediately!

Early detection is critical in melanoma! Critical steps towards early detection and prevention include wearing shoes at the beach (flip flops just aren’t going to do it); use sunscreen on your feet; inspect your feet daily; if you wear toenail polish, take it off at least once a month to inspect the nails; avoid sun exposure during the height of the day (Thank God we wear shoes biking and running in triathlon!).

Remember, if you think any spot on your foot or ankle has the "ABCD’s" of melanoma, call or contact the office immediately for a skin and nail inspection. Early detection is the key to successful treatment!