With some things in life, a few days don’t make much of a difference: mowing the lawn, repainting your deck, paying that enormous summer utility bill. When it comes to skin cancer, though, every day counts – a truth Dr. Anthony J. Perri knows all too well. Once upon a time, his father was diagnosed with melanoma, the most deadly of all skin cancers, but because it was detected very early, it was successfully treated and he is still alive today. For residents, annual skin checks are something Dr. Perri stresses as being vitally important.
Can’t I Just Check My Skin At Home?
You might feel like it’s too much trouble to see a dermatologist just to have your skin checked. Maybe you even think you’re wasting the dermatologist’s time and should just stick to home checks, but regular skin evaluations by a dermatologist are very important. Of course, regular self-exams are your first line of defense against skin cancer and keeping track of changes in your skin can prompt you to see a dermatologist when you otherwise might not, but consider the following:
- In basal cell carcinoma, infected areas may appear only slightly different from your regular skin and may be only barely raised or even flat to the touch
- With Bowen Disease, a variant of squamous cell carcinoma, the reddish scaly patches of skin are often mistaken for much less serious conditions such as eczema and psoriasis
- Melanoma tends to run in families, so even if you don’t yet have a recognizable presentation of it, if any of your relatives do or if they have a large number of atypical moles, you’re at high risk
Often, a trained dermatologist can identify pre-cancerous signs long before the average person would notice something is wrong. Regular skin checks can help Dr. Perri keep tabs on potentially problematic moles or pigmented areas of skin and make sure they aren’t developing in harmful ways.
What If I Don’t Have Time?
Dr. Perri has purposefully built his practice with busy people like you in mind. He offers extended hours to work around your schedule and ensure you aren’t waiting months to be seen. He has also employed Michelle Purtle, with over 10 years of experience in dermatology, as his physician’s assistant to provide even greater flexibility to meet your needs. A skin check can be completed in just a few minutes, but the peace of mind it gives you will last long after you’re done.
Time for your annual skin check? Dermatologist Dr. Anthony J. Perri and his staff offer extended hours to fit your schedule. Call today for your appointment.
