Dr. Steppie Urges Men's Health Readers to Man Up Against Skin Cancer
January 29, 2013
Listen up, men! You can learn a thing or two about skin care and your skin cancer risk from the women in your life, says Associates in Dermatology’s Dr. Michael Steppie, M.D. He was featured in a recent Men’s Health article titled “What Men can Learn about Health from Women.”
In the article, Dr. Steppie and other medical specialists echo the sentiment of psychologist Will Courtenay, Ph.D.: “Men consistently misperceive their level of risk,” he says.
And you know he’s right. Men are notorious for skipping visits to the doctor and other health precautions, even when they’re in pain. But all that machismo won’t help when what might have been a simple, easily treatable medical condition goes untreated for too long and becomes a more serious or even life-threatening issue.
One of those oft-ignored issues is the risk of skin cancer. Athletes, outdoorsmen and men who work outside are exposed to the sun’s harmful rays for hours, yet they often skip recommended precautions such as sunscreen and protective clothing.
“Women pay attention to their skin and take precautions early,” said Dr. Steppie, a board-certified dermatologist and internal medicine specialist who is a member of the prestigious Amonette Circle of Skin Care Foundation. “So should you.”
Dr. Steppie, a highly qualified MOHS micrographic skin cancer surgeon, notes that skin cancer is the most common cancer among men. In fact, upwards of 44,250 men were newly diagnosed with melanoma in 2012, according to statistics from the American Cancer Society. Of them, 6,060 died. Those figures represent 12,250 more diagnosed cases and 2,940 more deaths than women.
If you’re a male who spends any amount of time outside, be sure to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen. And if you notice a mole changing in color, size or texture, see a doctor, stat. Man up and take control of your health and your life. Contact Associates in Dermatology at 800-827-SKIN (7546) or via our convenient online form and schedule a consultation with an experienced skin specialist.
