If you've retired to The Villages, you already know what the rest of the country is still figuring out: the Florida sun is extraordinary. The light here has a quality that feels different — longer days, higher UV, and warmth that persists well into what other states call winter.
That same sun is also the reason skin cancer is more common in Central Florida than almost anywhere else in the United States.
Florida's UV Index Is Not Like the North
Most of our patients came here from the Northeast, Midwest, or Mid-Atlantic — states where summers are short and UV exposure is moderate. The accumulated sun damage from a lifetime in those climates is real, but it's compounded significantly once you're spending your days outdoors in a state where the UV index regularly hits 10 or 11.
UV radiation damages DNA in skin cells. That damage accumulates over a lifetime. Moving to Florida in your 50s or 60s doesn't reset the clock — it accelerates it.
The CDC ranks Florida among the top states for melanoma incidence. Sumter County, where The Villages sits, has a population that skews older and more sun-exposed than the national average on both counts.
The Most Common Skin Cancers — and Why Early Detection Matters
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer overall and tends to appear on sun-exposed areas — the face, scalp, ears, neck, and hands. It grows slowly and rarely spreads, but left untreated it can cause significant local damage and disfigurement. Caught early, treatment is straightforward.
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common. It also favors sun-exposed skin and can occasionally spread if ignored. Early detection dramatically simplifies treatment.
Melanoma is the least common but the most serious. It can develop anywhere on the body — including areas that rarely see the sun — and it can metastasize quickly if not caught at an early stage. The survival rate for melanoma caught before it spreads is over 99%. For melanoma caught after it has spread to distant organs, that number drops to 30%.
That gap is almost entirely about timing.
What an Annual Full-Body Skin Exam Covers
A comprehensive skin exam means exactly that — every inch. Scalp, behind the ears, between the fingers and toes, the soles of the feet, the back. Areas patients can't easily examine themselves.
During an exam, we're looking for:
- New or changing moles — any spot that has appeared or changed in the last year
- Asymmetry, irregular borders, or uneven color — the classic ABCD warning signs
- Diameter greater than 6mm — roughly the size of a pencil eraser
- Anything that bleeds, itches, or doesn't heal — even if it looks benign
Most of what we find is benign. But the ones that aren't are exactly why we do this annually, not once every few years.
The ABCDE Rule for Self-Checks Between Visits
You don't have to wait for an annual exam to catch something early. Monthly self-checks — especially after showering — are simple and effective. Use the ABCDE rule:
- A — Asymmetry: One half doesn't match the other
- B — Border: Irregular, ragged, or blurred edges
- C — Color: More than one color, or uneven distribution
- D — Diameter: Larger than 6mm (though melanomas can be smaller)
- E — Evolving: Any change in size, shape, color, or a new symptom like bleeding
If you notice any of these, call us. Don't wait for your next scheduled appointment.
Risk Factors That Raise Your Baseline
Beyond living in Florida, a number of factors increase your personal risk:
- Fair skin, light eyes, or light hair — less melanin means less natural UV protection
- History of sunburns, especially blistering burns before age 18
- Personal or family history of skin cancer
- More than 50 moles, or any atypical (dysplastic) moles
- Immunosuppression from medications, transplant, or certain conditions
- Extensive outdoor occupational history — farming, construction, military service
If several of these apply to you, annual exams aren't optional — they're essential.
What SpotDoc Offers at Our Brownwood Clinic
SpotDoc's clinic at 3614 Kiessel Road in Brownwood Square combines full-body imaging technology with comprehensive dermatologic care. Our SpotCheck360° system captures detailed images of your entire skin surface, creating a baseline we compare against at future visits to identify changes that might not be visible to the naked eye.
Beyond imaging, we provide clinical evaluation, biopsies when needed, excisions, and ongoing management for patients with complex or active skin cancer histories.
We accept Medicare and most major insurances. Appointments are available through our Klara scheduling system — no referral required. Here's what to expect at a skin cancer screening.
Dr. Tyler Long, DO is a board-certified dermatologist and the lead physician at SpotDoc The Villages. For appointments, call (352) 914-3451 or book online.