May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of this, Dr. Julie Russak of Russak Dermatology Clinic is making an extra effort to remind everyone to schedule a skin cancer screening. Dr. Russak is one of few doctors trained and practicing with the MelaFind®, a melanoma detection device that can save a patient from an unnecessary biopsy.
In the most curable form, melanoma may look like harmless irregular moles to the human eye, but left untreated in this early state, melanoma can spread very quickly. Despite public awareness campaigns regarding sun safety and the use of tanning salons, both the incidence and mortality from melanoma is on the rise, especially among young women. As a result, we encourage our patients to “know their skin” and schedule routine skin cancer screenings at least once a year.
Detecting melanoma with the human eye can be challenging. In an effort to offer our patients the most effective care, we are pleased to offer the MelaFind® in our practice. MelaFind® is the latest smart technology for melanoma detection used by dermatologists during a skin exam to see beneath the surface of the skin and help analyze irregular moles without cutting the skin – very much like a mini MRI of the skin, without radiation.
The device uses computer vision technology that provides dermatologists with additional information about a mole, which helps them determine whether to biopsy the mole or monitor it with the potential to prevent unnecessary biopsies. It’s quick, non-invasive and painless for patients.
Everyone is at risk for potentially developing melanoma. With MelaFind®, we can now detect potential melanoma at its most curable and treatable stages. For more information on MelaFind®, visit www.melafind.com or www.russakdermatology.com.
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