As we are now heading into the warm, dry, sunny (I’m being optimistic here!) Summer months, many of us see this as the time to get out the shorts and sandals, a time to let our legs and feet enjoy the healthy summer rays. A little bit of Vitamin D may be a good thing here in the Seattle/Bellevue area, but please don’t forget the sunscreen! Most people can still safely enjoy the summer sun, with a little bit of protection and prevention.
That being said, we often view the sun’s harmful rays as the primary cause of skin cancer. While this may be true of some bodily skin cancers, skin cancers of the feet are more often related to viruses, exposure to chemicals, chronic inflammation or irritation, or inherited traits. For this reason, your podiatrist’s knowledge and clinical training is of extreme importance in the early detection of both benign and malignant skin tumors.
At Bellevue Podiatry, both Dr. Jennifer Saam and Dr. Stephanie Kim are experienced in evaluating most skin conditions and lesions occurring on the feet. We are comfortable performing a biopsy when indicated, often easily performed as an in-office procedure for our patients. Our preferred pathology lab to have analyze your skin specimen is Bako Podiatric Pathology. With Bako’s board-certified dermatopathologists, they are a national leader in analyzing skin biopsies originating from the foot and ankle, with a higher level of training that may make the difference between getting an accurate diagnosis or not for your condition.
An early diagnosis could save your life! Ask your podiatrist for more information.
Regards,
Dr. Jennifer Saam
