How often should you get screened for melanoma?

This clip is from episode #308 – AMA #61: Sun exposure, sunscreen, and skin health: relationship between sun exposure and skin cancer, vitamin D production, and photoaging, how to choose a sunscreen, and more

In the full episode, they discuss:

- The impact of UV radiation on the skin
- Understanding solar UV: from the electromagnetic spectrum to skin health
- The role of sunlight in vitamin D production
- Factors contributing to vitamin D deficiency: insufficient UV exposure, magnesium levels, and more
- Sun exposure needs for different skin types, and the limitations of current studies in defining vitamin D deficiency
- The acute and long-term effects of excessive UV exposure: sunburn, photoaging, and the increased risk of skin cancer
- Types of skin cancer and associations with UV exposure
- The complex relationship between melanoma and UV exposure
- Why UV exposure alone doesn’t necessarily explain the risk for melanoma
- Other risk factors for melanoma
- Tanning beds and skin cancer risk
- Balancing sun exposure: benefits and risks
- Tattoos and sun exposure
- The importance of regular skin checks, dermatologists, and emerging technologies showing promise for early detection of cancer
- Self-skin checks: what to look for
- Prevalence of skin cancer and the importance of early detection
- Summary of the major risk factors for melanoma
- The role of sunscreen in reducing skin cancer risk
- How sunscreen works, the differences between chemical and mineral sunscreens, an explanation of SPF, and more
- How to determine the appropriate sunscreen SPF to use based on the UV index
- Choosing the right sunscreen for your individual needs [1:07:00];
- The impact of water and perspiration on sunscreen effectiveness
- Chemical vs. mineral sunscreens: safety concerns and recommendations
- Concerns about hormone effects from chemical sunscreens
- Sunscreen summary: skin types, key considerations, recommended brands, and more
- More

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The Peter Attia Drive is a deep-dive podcast focusing on maximizing longevity, and all that goes into that from physical to cognitive to emotional health. With over 90 million episodes downloaded, it features topics including exercise, nutritional biochemistry, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, mental health, and much more.

Peter Attia is the founder of Early Medical, a medical practice that applies the principles of Medicine 3.0 to patients with the goal of lengthening their lifespan and simultaneously improving their healthspan.

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[joannetrimbur]

My dermatologist is part of a group whose focus is on skin cancer screening and treatment and that’s what she does all day. She saw and biopsied my melanoma on my annual screening in late 2020, when it was still very tiny and a stage 0. She had me referred to a surgeon and done with a wide excision at lightning speed. Clean margins at biopsy and at surgery. Echoing another commenter, I am forever grateful I found Dr. Jennifer Ragi at Peninsula Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center, who has a great eye, is skilled at dermoscopy, and is very proactive. I would like to to also put in a plug for Skin IO mole mapping, which photographs, records, maps and tracks skin lesions

[markpalmer]

I’ve had three melanomas and get checked every 6 months now, and went more often for the year after each diagnosis. UTSW has a fantastic Pigmented Lesions Clinic and screening is all they do. Docs and clinical staff are the best. Shout out to Dr. Stephanie Savory, who has the greatest eye and is totally in the game.

[jenniferbower]

Twice a year here since 2009. I’ve had 5 MOHS surgeries. 1st one had margins that went to my muscle on my leg that showed melanoma.

[JulioHernandez-gzlr]

It's important that it is a dermatologist that does this often and is competent in dermoscopy.

[Louiseclaire]

Waiting lists for Dermatologist appointments in the Uk are at least18 you already have a skin complaint. You would never get an appointment for a check up unless you paid £250.

[rondoespsych]

I have a lot of moles and a few sus ones... 😮‍💨I should probably get checked

[the_parker_g]

Please tell me the model of that ear piece. 🙏🏼🫵🏼

[zezezep]

What about a Melanoma Clinic? I don't know if they are dermatologists.

[TheWalshWolf]

Is this screening recommendations for people over 40?

[nar-kldg]

From what i understand sun damage causes benign skin issues and deadly melanoma is lack of sun an other bad lifestyle choices maybe im wrong

[trnnel]

If everyone does this, the system can’t handle that. Over asking the health care system is beyond selfish.