PODIATRIST DISCUSSES RISKS OF SUN DAMAGE AND SKIN CANCER

Don’t overlook your feet during your sun protection routine. Feet get sunburned too, and melanoma on the foot or ankle is more likely to be misdiagnosed than on any other part of the body. A study published in The Journal of Foot & Ankle Surgery reported the overall survival rate for melanoma of the foot or ankle is just 52%, in sharp contrast to the 85% survival rate for melanomas on other areas of the body. 

 

Dr. Gretchen Lawrence

 

Apply sunscreen to the tops and bottoms of feet and limit sun exposure. Gretchen Lawrence, DPM notes, “If you spot abnormal moles or pigmented skin, including under toenails, visit a foot and ankle surgeon. Early detection and treatment could save your life.”

 

Source: The Boca Raton Tribune [7/23/23]

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News