However, the feet are one of the most overlooked areas of the body because people often only wear slippers or sandals when out in the sun. In fact, skin cancer can still appear on the feet.
Too much exposure to ultraviolet rays in sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer. Skin cancer can initially appear as a strange spot or dark mole-like mark on the skin, according to the health website Medical News Today (UK).
When checking for skin cancer on the feet, it is important to look not only at the top of the foot but also at the sole, between the toes and toenails.
The American Academy of Dermatology says skin cancer on the feet can be easily overlooked. To catch it early, people should check not only the skin on the tops of their feet, but also the soles of their feet and between their toes.
Although skin cancers are usually black or brown, they can also appear pink or red on the feet. Skin cancers can also appear as a vertical brown or black line under the toenail.
Sometimes, cancerous cells can form on the feet if the injury occurs repeatedly over a long period of time. Therefore, any lump, ulcer or lesion that grows abnormally fast next to a long-term injury may be cancerous. They may bleed, ooze, itch or cause pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter medications.
Skin cancer on the feet can also be caused by viral infections, chemical exposure, chronic inflammation, and family history.
Most skin cancers appear to be a different color than the skin. However, amelanotic melanoma is often skin-colored. This rare cancer is often mistaken for a common carcinoma, scar, or mole. It is aggressive, grows quickly, and spreads easily to surrounding tissues.
The American Podiatric Medical Association notes that skin cancer on other parts of the body is often caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet rays in sunlight. But skin cancer on the feet can also be caused by viral infections, chemical exposure, chronic inflammation, and family history.
When a suspicious skin cancer is found on the foot, the doctor will ask about when it appeared and any changes in size and color.
In addition, the doctor will also check the lymph nodes in the abdomen, biopsy to determine whether it is cancer or not. Early detection of skin cancer on the feet will significantly increase the patient's survival rate, according to Medical News Today.
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