The Spot
Clinical guides, research, and news on skin cancer and dermatologic care — from the SpotDoc medical team.
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Why Villages Residents Face a Higher Skin Cancer Risk — And What to Do About It
Florida's year-round sun is one of the great draws of life in The Villages. It's also why our patients here carry one of the highest skin cancer risks in the country. Here's what you need to know.
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Clinical Guides
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratoses are rough, scaly patches caused by years of sun exposure. They are not yet cancer — but they are the most common precancerous skin condition and a direct precursor to squamous cell carcinoma. Treating them is the most effective way to prevent SCC.
Atypical Moles (Dysplastic Nevi)
Atypical moles — also called dysplastic nevi — are benign. They are a marker of melanoma risk, not a step on the way to it, and most do not need to be cut out again when a biopsy margin is positive.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer in the United States, accounting for roughly 80% of all cases. It rarely spreads but can cause significant damage if left untreated — and is almost always curable when caught early.
Melanoma
Melanoma is the most serious common skin cancer — but when it's found early, it's also one of the most treatable. Here's what it is, how it's found, and what treatment usually involves.
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