It’s important to take care of your skin, and yearly examinations by a dermatologist for proper Grapevine melanoma diagnosis can save your life if caught early. Melanoma is the most severe kind of skin cancer. Melanoma spreads to other areas to the body quickly which can be fatal. Prism Dermatology specializes in Grapevine skin cancer treatment options and will help you both treat and prevent melanoma.
Early Detection
Early detection is key when it comes to Grapevine melanoma diagnosis, and you can make sure to catch it early on by following a few simple steps. The first step is to watch out for warning signals of melanoma and closely examine your skin for any abnormalities. If you do find indications that give you cause for concern, see a dermatologist immediately. One of the first warning signs of melanoma that local patients should look for is changes to existing moles. Dermatologists recommend using the ABCDEs of melanoma when examining your own skin. These are the following:
Asymmetry: both sides of the mole are not alike
Border: oddly shaped, or irregular border
Color: the colors vary in different areas and Southlake patients may notice an irregular colored spot on skin composed colors such as tan, black, and brown. It could also include white, red, or blue.
Diameter: melanomas on the skin are typically larger than 6mm when they are diagnosed.
Evolving: the mole is continuing to change in size, shape, or color, and it looks different from other moles on your skin.
Another sign of melanoma that local patients should watch out for is a dark streak around the nails. Patients may develop a band of darker colored skin around toenails or fingernails. Melanoma can develop on the scalp, skin, genitals, and underneath the nails.
Prognosis And Treatment
When patients discover the early warning signs of melanoma, their first question is usually “what is the prognosis for melanoma in Grapevine?”. Our board-certified dermatologist at Prism Dermatology will carefully examine your skin, focusing on any suspicious moles using a dermoscope. The process will then be to remove part of the mole for a biopsy it in order to confirm a melanoma diagnosis including what stage it is in. Once you have been given an accurate diagnosis, we will take the time to educate you about all your Grapevine skin cancer treatment options. The most common treatment options include surgery to remove all of the cancer from the skin either by excision or Mohs surgery. If the melanoma has spread deep or to other areas of the body, additional treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy may be needed.
Take Care Of Your Concern Today
If you are concerned that you may have signs or symptoms of skin cancer, contact us at Prism Dermatology to schedule an appointment to determine if you have a Grapevine melanoma diagnosis. Call us today at 817-329-1350 in order to put your mind at ease.
