Experts and patients share tips on preventing skin cancer

Apr 26 2013

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with one in five Americans developing it over the course of their lives. It's also one of the most preventable types of cancers. Since May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Melanoma Monday is May 6th, Mount Sinai experts are sharing tips on prevention.

Skin Cancer Screening at The Mount Sinai Medical Center on May 23, 2013, 3-5 p.m. at 5 E. 98th Street, 5th Floor

Facts
● Melanoma is the number one fastest growing cancer in men and number two in women.
●Basal cell carcinoma is the most common kind of skin cancer and if caught early it has a cure rate of 99 percent.

Tips for Skin Cancer Prevention
●Get an annual checkup: Annual dermatology visits to monitor changes in you and your child's skin appearance are just as important as annual physicals and regular trips to the dentist. Nearly 50 percent of UV exposure occurs between the ages of 19 - 40.
●Wear sunblock every day: Sunblock is not just for the summer. You should apply it thoroughly - to your body, eyes, lips, ears and feet - every day, year-round.
●Never intentionally sunbathe: You might not immediately realize the damage you're doing by sunbathing, because it takes 10-20 years for skin damage to catch up with you, but sun dissolves the collagen and elastin in your skin which keeps your skin healthy.
●Watch your brown spots and freckles: Do self-skin checks every month. If you have a lot of brown spots, talk to your dermatologist about total body photography so your doctor can keep a photographic record of your moles and watch closely for any change.
●Follow the ABCDEs: Tell your dermatologist if your moles have:

• Asymmetry, where one half of the mole is unlike the other half;
• Borders that are irregular, ragged, notched or poorly defined;
• Color that varies from one area to another, with shades of tan and brown, black, sometimes white, pink, red or blue;
• Diameters that are the size of a pencil eraser or larger;

Experts Available for Interview

Dr. Hooman Khorasani, Chief of Division of Mohs, Reconstructive, and Cosmetic Surgery and Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine.
Dr. Hooman Khorasani specializes in skin cancer management, Mohs micrographic surgery, reconstructive surgery and surgery including liposuction, blepharoplasty, fat transfers, laser rejuvenation procedures, scar revisions, neurotoxins and fillers. He has done extensive research in minimal scar wound repair and recently publishing an article that introduces a groundbreaking technique deemed essential to the field of wound healing research in the American Journal of Pathology. His professional affiliations include American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology and American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. Following medical school, Dr. Khorasani completed his internship in General Surgery at the USC-LA County Hospital, gaining extensive exposure to trauma and reconstructive surgery. He then completed a research fellowship in Plastic Surgery at the University of Southern California School of Medicine where he studied minimal scar wound repair.

Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Assistant Professor and Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research in the Department of Dermatology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center
Dr. Zeichner is actively involved in clinical trials for all skin conditions including acne, psoriasis, eczema/atopic dermatitis, and actinic keratoses/skin cancer. His professional affiliations include the American Academy of Dermatology, American Acne & Rosacea Society, Skin Cancer Foundation, and National Psoriasis Foundation. Dr. Zeichner's work has been published in top peer-reviewed dermatology journals, and he has lectured to international audiences. Dr. Zeichner is a Manhattan native. After attending the University of Pennsylvania for his undergraduate education, Dr. Zeichner attended the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Zeichner has been featured in media outlets like Self, Allure, Woman's Day, and E! News.

Patients are also available to discuss their experience with melanoma and other skin cancers.