Last week, Dr. Sullivan visited Cresswind at the Ponds, a retirement community in Summerville, to discuss skincare issues that many adults continue to deal with every day.

Our team jumped at the chance to be a part of this thriving Summerville community’s Wellness Program, which strives to provide residents with educational opportunities to help them live better and longer.

Dr. Sullivan led the discussion on the importance of using sunscreen and how to keep skin protected from sun damage. He also discussed how the Summerville residents could recognize the early signs of melanoma by performing regular self-examinations. Ideally, when a suspicious mole or lesion has been detected, a professional screening by a board-certified dermatologist is highly recommended.

More than just being reactive when a suspicious mark presents itself, Dr. Sullivan explained to the group, it is important to be proactive by scheduling annual skin cancer screenings with a dermatologist. In fact, 1 in 5 Americans will develop some for of skin cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, most skin cancers are detectable with a simple skin examination.

Perhaps the most poignant comparison Dr. Sullivan gave was that “people go to the dentist twice year for cleanings and check-ups, but a cavity cannot kill you.”

Want to schedule your own skin screening? Stop by our office on Netherby Lane, right down the road from Summerville today!