Your Most Important Summer Appointment Isn’t What You Think It Is

You’ve booked the vacation. You’ve stocked up on sunscreen. You’ve mentally prepared for the Georgia heat. But there’s one summer appointment that ranks above all of them in terms of long-term impact — and most people in Alpharetta and the greater Atlanta area are not making it.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, and Georgia’s warm, sun-saturated climate means that North Atlanta residents accumulate UV exposure at a rate that makes annual skin cancer screening not just recommended, but genuinely important. June is the month when that UV intensity peaks. It’s also one of the best times to schedule a full skin exam — both because early summer allows you to assess any changes that developed over the spring, and because establishing a baseline now gives your dermatologist a clear picture to compare against in future years.

At Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta, Dr. Susan Spitzler, MD, and Dr. Emma Murad, MD, provide comprehensive skin cancer screenings and treatment for patients throughout Alpharetta and the surrounding North Atlanta communities. Both are board-certified dermatologists with the clinical depth to detect skin cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages.

Skin Cancer in Georgia: Why Geography Matters

Georgia ranks among the higher-risk states for skin cancer incidence, and the reason is both simple and cumulative: sunlight. The Atlanta metro area receives significant UV radiation throughout the year — not just in summer — and the outdoor culture of North Atlanta means that residents tend to accumulate meaningful lifetime UV exposure through everyday activity. Walks in the neighborhood, sporting events, time at the pool, weekends at Lake Lanier, gardening — none of these require a beach vacation to add up to significant sun exposure over decades.

Ultraviolet radiation — specifically UVA and UVB — damages the DNA in skin cells. Most of this damage is repaired by the body’s own cellular mechanisms, but some errors persist and accumulate. Over time, this accumulated damage can cause cells to grow and divide in uncontrolled ways, producing skin cancer. The three most common types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma — each with distinct characteristics, risk levels, and treatment approaches.

The Three Types of Skin Cancer: What You’re Actually Watching For

Understanding the major skin cancer types helps patients become better observers of their own skin between professional screenings:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The most frequently diagnosed skin cancer in the United States, basal cell carcinoma develops in the basal cells of the skin’s outer layer. It typically appears on sun-exposed areas — the face, scalp, neck, hands — as a pearly or waxy bump, a flat flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion, or a pink growth with raised edges. BCC rarely spreads to other parts of the body but can cause significant local tissue damage if left untreated and should be addressed promptly.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): The second most common type, squamous cell carcinoma arises from the flat squamous cells in the middle and outer layers of skin. It often appears as a firm red nodule, a flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface, or a new sore or raised area on an old scar. SCC has a higher potential to spread than BCC, particularly in immunocompromised individuals or when tumors develop on the ears or lips. Early detection dramatically improves outcomes.
• Melanoma: The most serious form of skin cancer, melanoma develops in the pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. It can appear as a new dark spot anywhere on the body, or as a change in an existing mole — a shift in color, size, shape, or texture. The ABCDE guide provides a useful framework for self-monitoring: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter greater than 6mm, and Evolution (any change over time). Melanoma caught at an early, localized stage has a five-year survival rate exceeding 98 percent. Detected after it has spread to distant organs, that rate drops significantly.

What a Professional Skin Exam Involves

A skin cancer screening at Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta is a thorough, head-to-toe visual examination of the skin’s surface, including areas that are difficult to self-examine. Dr. Spitzler and Dr. Murad evaluate every part of the skin — not just areas that have been sun-exposed — because skin cancer can develop in unexpected locations including the scalp, between the toes, under the nails, and on the lower back.

Dermoscopy — a handheld illuminated magnification device — allows the dermatologists to evaluate pigmented lesions with a level of detail not visible to the naked eye, improving the accuracy of identifying early or ambiguous changes. Any lesion that warrants further evaluation can be biopsied during the same visit, with results typically returned within a week.

The exam itself takes approximately fifteen to thirty minutes. Many patients describe it as the fastest appointment they make all year — and the one they’re most glad they scheduled.

Who Should Be Screened and How Often

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends annual skin exams for adults, with more frequent monitoring for patients who have a personal or family history of skin cancer, a history of significant sunburns or tanning bed use, a large number of moles, fair skin that burns easily, or a history of immunosuppressive conditions or medications.

In practice, many patients at Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta are surprised to learn they fall into one of these higher-risk categories. Light complexion alone increases risk substantially. A history of five or more blistering sunburns before age twenty doubles the lifetime risk of melanoma. These aren’t reasons for alarm — they’re reasons to be proactive.

Beyond annual exams, the most effective form of skin cancer surveillance is consistent self-monitoring. Checking your own skin once a month — ideally in good light with a mirror — allows you to notice changes early and bring them to your dermatologist’s attention at your next visit or sooner if needed.

Sun Protection Is Treatment, Not Just Prevention

The dermatologists at Spectrum Dermatology are clear on one point: sun protection is not something you do after you’ve had skin cancer. It’s something you do before, during, and after — because UV damage compounds over a lifetime and continued exposure increases the risk of new skin cancers even in patients who have already been treated.

For summer specifically, the most impactful sun protection habits are: applying broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen every morning as a non-negotiable part of the routine, reapplying every two hours during outdoor exposure, choosing SPF-rated protective clothing for extended outdoor activities, and seeking shade during peak UV hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when Georgia’s summer sun is most intense.

Sunscreen use doesn’t eliminate the need for annual screenings — it reduces the risk of new damage while exams catch what may have already developed.

Schedule Your Summer Screening in Alpharetta

If it has been more than a year since your last full skin exam — or if you’ve never had one — June is the right time to schedule. Early detection of skin cancer is the single most powerful factor in treatment success across all three major types.

Spectrum Dermatology of Atlanta is led by Dr. Susan Spitzler, MD, and Dr. Emma Murad, MD, both board-certified dermatologists with deep expertise in skin cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The practice is located at 1725 Windward Concourse, Suite 120 in Alpharetta, just south of Halcyon where McGinnis Ferry Road crosses Georgia 400. Call (470) 731-8010 or schedule online to book your appointment. Your skin has been working hard all year — it deserves the same attention.