Updated 3/2017 -- all links except those to my own posts were removed as many are no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.
H/T to DermDoc who treated this news article link. The article is “Some Laser Treatments Could Put Health At Risk, Dermatologists Say.”
dermdoc Medical Spas Removing Moles with Lasers <-- Dangerous. Melanoma looks like a mole. http://tinyurl.com/m2pqmo 3:13 PM Jul 20th from webHe then followed up with this tweet
dermdoc Medi-Spas are spas. Never have a mole removed without being checked by a physician. @serious_skeptic @nanarcr 3:29 PM Jul 20th from web
I agree. It can be difficult even for trained physicians to tell the difference between moles and melanoma. Don’t allow spas to laser them. If there is any question, the mole should be biopsied. That doesn’t happen with “laser treatment.”
To further make this point, check out the slide show on Medscape (free subscription required)
Mole or Melanoma? Tell-Tale Signs in Benign Nevi and Malignant Melanoma: Slideshow Can you spot the differences between benign and potentially malignant nevi? Would you be able to tell which require a biopsy?
Related Posts
Melanoma Review (February 25, 2008)
Skin Cancer—Melanoma (December 8, 2008)
Melanoma Skin Screening Is Important (April 29, 2009)
Skin Cancer -- Basal Cell Carcinoma (December 3, 2008)
Skin Cancer – Squamous Cell Carcinoma (December 4, 2008)
It is so important to have information like the stuff on your blog available to everyone. I truly believe the private sector and competitive market forces, not the federal government, are the best means to meeting our country’s rapidly expanding health care needs. One of the things I think we can do to help make that happen is support American businesses and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (http://bit.ly/oanAT). They’re doing things to reach out and show people that they can get involved, too.
ReplyDelete