MORGANTOWN — Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, according to the CDC, which is why Dr. Mary Hall, of Mon Health Dermatology, recommends scheduling annual screenings.
Up that to a screening every six months, if you have personal or family history of the disease.
She also encourages monthly mole checks at home, as she said in a blog, “you’ll notice the changes earlier.” Be sure to do the checks in a well-lit room, after shower or bath. And use a hand mirror, as well as a full-length one. You should look for changes in mole color, border irregularities, asymmetry and itchiness.
As part of the Mon Health Zelda Stein Weiss Cancer Awareness and Early Detection Project, the health system will offer free skin cancer screenings this spring, beginning Tuesday.
Appointments are required and can be made by calling the Mon Health Medical Center community wellness office at 304-285-2730.
The following locations and dates are available:
— 5-7 p.m. Tuesday and May 14 at Hall Dermatology LLC, Dr. William Hall, 400 Drummond St.
— 9-11 a.m. Friday at Mon Health Dermatology, Dr. Mary Hall, 1000 Mon Health Medical Park Drive, Suite 1000
— 8-11 a.m. Friday Mountain State Dermatology, Dr. Amy Norton, 165 Scott Ave.
— 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 14 at Dermatology Center for Skin Health, Dr. Rola Gharib, 600 Suncrest Towne Centre, Suite 115
— 3:30-5:30 p.m. May 16 at Dermatology Center for Skin Health, Dr. Michele Maouad, 600 Suncrest Towne Centre, Suite 115
— 8-10 a.m. May 17 at Pineview Dermatology, Dr. Kenneth Hardy, 1311 Pineview Drive, Suite 200
— noon-1:30 p.m. May 17 at Mountain State Dermatology, Alisha Varner, 165 Scott Ave.
In her blog, Hall also offers tips to help prevent cancer. These include wearing zinc or titanium dioxide sunscreen of 30 SPF or above daily and reapplying it every two hours; avoiding tanning beds; and avoiding sun exposure between 10 a.m.-4 p.m., which is when UV rays are strongest. Those choosing to use spray-on sunscreens should be sure to rub the product in for proper coverage.
