Ultraviolet rays from the sun are the leading cause of skin cancer, a sobering fact that should give those who work or play in the sun pause.

Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of all cancers in the United States, and the number of cases continues to rise. It is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. This rapid growth results in tumors, which are either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

There are three types of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. According to Limestone County’s only dermatologist, Dr. Stephen Mallette, cumulative sun exposure is the primary cause of basal cell and squamous cell cancers, which are far more common and treatable than melanoma.

Mallette, who has treated close to 50,000 patients during his 13 years of practice in Athens, said people who live in the Southeast are at an increased risk for developing skin cancer because the temperate climate allows people to spend more time outside and many of the professions available in the South require outdoor work.

“Sun exposure is dose dependent,” Mallette said. “The more sun exposure you get, the more you are at risk.”

“I tell my patients, ‘When you were born, you were like an empty glass. Some of us have a big glass, others have a small one, but every time you get sun exposure, you pour a little into your glass until eventually it gets full, and I have to start treating you for precancerous or cancerous spots,’” he said.

Risk factors

Aside from sun exposure, Mallette said people should be aware of additional skin cancer risks including:

• Age. After 45, the risk for developing skin cancer increases;

• Complexion. Those with fair skin, light eyes and blonde or red hair are more likely to develop skin cancer than those with darker skin;

• Family history. One in 10 of those diagnosed with melanoma have a family member who was diagnosed; and

• Burns. Those with chemical, radiation, electrical or fire burns are more likely to be diagnosed later in life.

Prevention is key

Anyone, regardless of skin color or family history, can develop skin cancer, so prevention is critical. Mallette encourages his patients to take the following preventive measures:

• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater every day;

• On days of increased sun exposure, make sure the sunscreen is sweatproof and waterproof;

• Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions for reapplication; and

• Use physical barriers such as wide-brim hats that cover the ears and rash guards to protect the skin.

Melanoma

Melanoma, made up of abnormal skin pigment cells called melanocytes, is the most serious form of skin cancer and causes 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Left untreated, it can spread to other organs and is difficult to control.

That is what happened to Steven Croomes, an Athens lawyer who passed away in the spring of 2015 after melanoma spots on his nose and temple spread to his brain, liver and lungs.

His niece, Rebecca Croomes, said he had the melanoma on his face removed in 2010.

“We thought everything was fine. The doctors thought they got it all, so they didn’t have him do any radiation or chemo,” Croomes said.

In the winter of 2014, Croomes said she started noticing her uncle would “act uncharacteristically” or “space out.”

Later that year, he lost his balance and nearly fell off the float he was riding on during a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

“He came home and had some things checked out,” Croomes said. “They found some spots on his lungs, but they didn’t come back with anything specific.”

About nine months later, Croomes said, he got really sick, but she and the rest of the family thought he had the flu.

More tests, however, revealed the spots on his lung were melanoma that had spread.

“When he went home, we felt like that was it,” Croomes said. “He did a round of treatment at the Cancer Center in Huntsville, but that didn’t do much.”

Steven Croomes, an active member of the Limestone County NAACP and president of the Madison Rotary Club, died May 11, 2015. He was 59.

Croomes said her uncle’s battle with melanoma has put her family on alert.

“My dad sees a dermatologist regularly now,” she said. “If anything looks suspicious on him my mom is all over him to see the doctor.”

She also takes better care of her skin, making sure to wear sunscreen even during the winter months.

Warning signs

The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin, typically in the form of a new mole or skin lesion or a change in an existing mole.

MedlinePlus, a website for the National Institute of Health, suggests “ABCDE” as a way to remember what to look for, particularly with melanoma. The acronym breaks down as follows:

• Assymetry — one half does not match the other;

• Border — edges are ragged, blurred or irregular;

• Color — uneven color that may include shades of black, brown, black-blue or tan;

• Diameter — there is a change in size, usually an increase; and

• Evolving — mole has changed over the past few weeks or months.

“If you see a mole, whether it is new or old, and it has changed shape, size or color, you should have it examined by a dermatologist or your family doctor,” Mallette said. “If you have a lot of moles and one doesn’t look like the others, that’s worth checking out, too.”

According to Mallette, 60 percent of melanomas arise from existing moles.

Mallette Dermatology is currently accepting patients and accepts most insurances. For more information, call 256-771-1995.