Consistent use of sunscreen and reduced sun exposure between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. each day is the best way to protect your skin from most skin cancers.

Dr. Ginsburg specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. Early detection is key to preventing complications. We recommend screening every 3-6 months on all cancer-prone patients, and a full skin exam for all patients every year. If a skin cancer has been diagnosed, we provide the latest treatments to assure you the highest cure rate available. We also specialize in cosmetic reconstruction after cancer removal. We hope this site can be a resource for your skin cancer questions, but if you have a suspicious mole, lesion or pigmentation, please see a doctor right away.

How to Check Your Skin

Following are skin self-exam recommendations endorsed by the American Cancer Society, and the American Academy of Dermatology:

• Examine your skin for changes in the appearance of moles or other skin spots in bright natural light or a well-lighted area. Use a mirror for areas of the body you cannot see or have someone assist you.
• Check your skin every month, and have a doctor check your skin yearly.

Please consult your doctor or make an appointment to see one of our physicians if you have any of the following warning signs:

• One half of a mole does not match the other
• A mole has an irregular, ragged, or blurred border
• The mole's color is not the same all over, but may have differing shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white or blue
• The size of mole is larger than 6 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) or is growing larger
• The mole has a history of bleeding or itching

Skin Care Prevention

Repeated exposure to the ultraviolet radiation of the sun is the most important preventable cause of skin cancer. People in southern regions, where the sunlight is more intense, are more likely to develop melanoma than those in northern regions. Early detection and frequent skin exams by both you and your physicians are key to preventing complications and progression to skin cancer.

Genetic factors and immune system deficiencies have been linked to skin cancer. Also, malignant melanoma has been linked to past sunburns and sun exposure at younger ages. Children should wear a daily sunscreen and protective clothing from infancy, and should avoid outdoor play between the hours of 11:00 am and 1:00 p.m., when ultraviolet rays are most intense.

Overview of Skin Cancer Treatments by The National Cancer Institute:

How to treat a severe sunburn
Many scientific studies have shown that the correct diagnoses and treatments for skin cancer are most frequently delivered by dermatologists.

Skin Care Resources

For additional information regarding skin cancer prevention, treatment
and diagnosis, our physicians recommend the following resources:

Skin cancer links and information from the American Academy of Dermatology:

Articles and Pres Releases from the American Academy of Dermatology:

"New Research: Making the Most of Your Sunscreen"

"Promising New Ways to Prevent Skin Cancer and Photoaging"

"Study Confirms Sunscreen Use in Children May Reduce Risk of Future Skin Cancer"

"Children at Risk: Protecting Our Children from Skin Cancer"

American Cancer Society

Articles/Studies by the American Cancer Society:

"Golfers and Skin Cancer"

"Smoking Linked to Skin Cancer"

"Protect Your Skin from the Sun"

We have a skin cancer clinic at each location:

• Montclair 972 Montclair Rd (205)592-4880
• Bessemer UAB Medical West (205)428-8915