Skin cancer, especially for those living in desert areas, is of a particular concern. With extreme exposure to the sun, skin cancer can easily develop. Desert resort areas play a significant part due to the almost unlimited amount of golf courses, tennis facilities, hiking trails, and other outdoor activities. There are numerous cancers which affect the human body. Of these, there are three main types of malignant skin cancer; Malignant Melanoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Basal Cell Carcinoma. Over 80% of all skin cancer in the foot and leg are melanomas. The red flags (signs of great concern) include undefined borders, bleeding, growth, different coloring, ulceration, and a raised appearance. If there are any questions concerning an abnormal area on your skin, it’s best to have it evaluated.

Return to Foot and Ankle Topics