During hot and sunny summers like the ones we have, we always make sure to protect our body against the dangerous UV rays known to be cancer-causing. Unfortunately, we often forget to protect the feet with shoes or a good sunscreen, increasing our risk of skin cancer of the foot and ankle.

The three most common malignant skin lesions that we can find on the foot are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

It is essential that you examine each and every part of your body to detect these types of lesions the earliest possible, when they are the most treatable. You have to be suspicious when you have a skin change, it can be a small sore that doesn’t heal or a mole that you never noticed before or that has changes in size or color.

A quick and easy way to suspect malignant melanoma is to check the ABCDE criterias. A is for asymmetrical, B is for irregular borders, C is for heterogeneous color, D is for a diameter greater than 6 mm and E is for evolution of the lesion.

Since you better be safe than sorry, if you notice any concerning skin change, make sure to talk about it to your podiatrist for further evaluation. As health professionals, we will assess and monitor the evolution of the lesion, biopsy the suspect region and refer to a dermatologist or oncologist if needed. These words being said, enjoy the nice weather and protect your skin from the sun, including your feet!

If you need more information or if you have any questions related to the foot or ankle please check out our website! AtlanticFeet.com