Check Your Feet for Melanoma
Skin cancer is usually associated with excessive sun exposure, so it can be easy to overlook the prospect of contracting skin cancer on our feet. While some skin cancers are caused by ultraviolet light damage, other factors can also be involved, so it’s important to check your feet and ankles for skin cancer as you should do with the rest of your skin.
One type of skin cancer called acral lentiginous melanoma can show up on the soles of the feet or even underneath the toenail. Always be alert for any unusual looking lesions. Keep in mind that melanoma tends to grow into your skin layers instead of across the surface and that it can mimic other skin conditions.
Skin conditions that may actually be melanoma include:
Moles
Ulcers or blood blisters
Risk factors for developing melanoma
Genetic predisposition—If your relatives have had skin cancer, then you are more susceptible
Harmful environmental exposures—Chemical burns and toxic chemical exposure can alter the DNA in skin cells, possibly causing a malignant melanoma to develop
Immune system issues—Human papillomavirus and HIV contamination can limit your body’s ability to repair and remove damaged skin cells, possibly leading to cancerous lesions
If malignant melanoma reaches the blood vessels and lymph nodes, the cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body. Be sure to have our Dyker Park Footcare, PLLC Foot Doctor look at any skin growths on your feet and ankles.
If you are concerned about an unusual growth on your foot, it is time to see our expert Foot Doctors. Contact Dyker Park Footcare, PLLC located in Brooklyn, NY With access to advanced technologies, Our Podiatrists can help you manage all of your foot and ankle conditions Call (718) 745-6220 or request an appointment online today.