You’re likely aware of the skin health basics — using sunscreen, limiting sun exposure and avoiding the tanning bed, for instance. A regular skin check is a great addition to these; it can help you stay aware of any new freckles, moles and other marks, as well as any changes to existing ones.
This isn’t simply a vanity-driven endeavor, either. A thorough skin check can catch most skin cancers in their early stages, according to the American Cancer Society. This means better therapeutic options if your physician does find a suspicious growth.
“The sooner most skin cancers are identified, the more easily they can be treated,” said Kasia Masterpol, MD, a Lahey Health dermatologist, now practicing in Burlington and opening soon in Woburn.