As soon as temperatures begin to go up in Middlesex County, we at Feet First Foot Care Specialists know that patients can’t wait to shed their socks and start wearing sandals and other open styles of footwear. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and a good time to share some facts about this disease, which can occur on the skin of your feet. Below are some common myths and why you shouldn’t believe them.

MYTH: Skin cancer is a relatively minor form of cancer.

FACT: Skin cancer is actually the most prevalent form of cancer with over 5 million new cases being diagnosed each year. Deaths from melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, are expected to increase by 22% in 2019.

MYTH: Skin cancer isn’t normally found on your feet.

FACT: The skin on your feet is just as susceptible to skin cancer as the skin on the rest of your body. For this reason, it is necessary to take the same precautions from the sun and to engage in the same level of vigilance with regard to performing self-exams on your feet. In fact, skin cancers on the soles of the feet or between the toes are often not diagnosed until a later stage of the disease. Patients don’t think to examine that part of their body for potential signs of skin cancer.

MYTH: Indoor tanning beds are okay as long as you use sunscreen.

FACT: Indoor tanning beds cause more cases of skin cancer than smoking causes cases of lung cancer. UV radiation is a proven carcinogen. People who have used tanning beds in the past have a 67% increased risk of developing skin cancer in the future.

MYTH: I only need to apply sunscreen to my feet if I am spending a day at the pool or beach.

FACT: Sunscreen should be applied to your feet any time they will be exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time. Even a day of running errands or sight-seeing while wearing sandals or flip flops will expose your skin to the harmful UV rays of the sun. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher about 30 minutes before going out. On beach or pool days, reapply every two hours (to tops and bottoms of your feet) and after swimming.

If you notice any unusual freckles or spots on your skin, or if a mole you’ve had for a while appears to be changing, contact our Cromwell office by calling: (860) 632-5499 so that our podiatrist Dr. Adam Mucinskas can evaluate your symptoms.

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We encourage you to contact us whenever you have an interest or concern about our services.

Call Today (860) 632-5499

162 West St Ste K Cromwell, CT 06416