"People of any age, and particularly young women, should have an initial dermatology checkup and look at their skin while doing their monthly self breast exam," recommended Dr. Rosio.

Dr. Tim Rosio, of AnewSKIN^TM Dermatology in Sacramento, California, has strengthened his education to adults and children about healthy skin habits and misunderstood skin cancer risks based on his patient findings and recent statistics.

Tamra for example, a young woman Dr. Rosio treated with laser for a facial portwine birthmark, believed she was NOT at risk for skin cancer. She was too young. Plus, she didn't lay out in the sun. And she didn't have anything unusual on her face, arms, or legs. Her other doctors had never mentioned anything to her. But she had never had a complete exam by a dermatologist.

"Even in non-sunexposed body areas," Dr. Rosio said, "Skin cancer is increasing, including potentially fatal melanoma in young women. Melanoma has doubled in the last 10 years, increased 2000% (20 times) in the last 50 years, will affect 75,000 people and take 10,000 lives in the U.S. this year. Most people are surprised to find out that melanoma is the most frequent potentially fatal cancer in young women aged 25 to 29. That puts it ahead of breast cancer in your age group, Tamra, and second most frequent in women 30 to 34 years of age. One out of four melanomas occur in people less than 40 years of age. Melanoma can even occur in babies who have never had sun exposure," Dr. Rosio said. "Only one out of five melanomas occur in the sun exposed head and neck, so 80% of melanomas occur elsewhere, often in covered areas. That confuses people who mistakenly believe non-sunexposed areas are not at risk for skin cancer. It's an indirect effect with melanoma," Rosio noted.

Tamra had a complete skin check with Dr. Rosio after hearing this. "Dr. Rosio found a suspicious spot beneath my right breast. He biopsied it - it was so tiny, it never bothered me, but it was melanoma! I was scared." Dr. Rosio told me, "Don't worry Tamra. The good news is, it is curable. We found it early enough and can remove it."

Dr. Rosio points out, "The good news is that most of the 75,000 people who experience melanoma this year can be cured, with early detection and treatment. Survival has increased from 40% fifty years ago, to nearly 80% in 1990. The key factor is early dermatologic detection and treatment, before the melanoma deepens, and can spread. You can't tell by looking with the naked eye, it's the thickness seen under the microscope, not the width that matters. Nearly 100% of melanomas less than three-fourths of a millimeter thickness are curable, but when a melanoma achieves 3 millimeters thickness, survival drops to 50% (a period on this page is about a millimeter).

Tamra said, "It seemed like such a simple procedure in Dr. Rosio's office surgery. He talked with me and helped me relax. It took 30 minutes, wasn't painful, and it's difficult to even find the hairline scar."

Learn Your Risk: The AnewSKIN System. Increasing incidence of mealanoma means one in fifty people could develop a melanoma by 2010. What is your risk? It could increase twenty times with several factors. However AnewSKIN Dermatology developed a system that makes it easier to remember and recognize your risks: 3 F's and 3 B's: Are you Fair, Freckled, or have Family member(s) with melanoma? Do you have: Blistering Burns, Bizarre moles, or Bountiful sun (at work or play)? If you have moles (most do) learn Dermatology's A, B, C, D, E system. Especially watch spots that are Asymmetrical, irregularly Bordered, unusual Color and large or changing Diameter or Elevation. So 3F's, 3B's make skin cancer detection easy as A, B, C, D, E. "It's your skin. See a Dermatologist." Tamra says she feels extremely fortunate she saw Dr. Rosio and had him perform a thorough Dermatology exam before it was too late. She advises, "It's your skin. See a Dermatologist. It's quick, easy, and can save your life!" See Dr. Rosio on "Discovery Channel," "Dr. Koop.com," in "Womans Day." Dr. Rosio is a board certified Dermatologist with AnewSKIN Dermatology serving Folsom, Auburn, and the greater Sacramento region. He is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology. He speaks locally and internationally on healthy skin and skin cancer prevention and treatment. The public can find further information and interviews with Dr. Rosio on Dr. Koop.com and the Discovery Channel: including what to look for in pigmented spots on the skin, and Dr. Rosio's skin cancer education and advanced skin cancer and laser treatments. Also visit web sites www.AnewSkin.info and www.AgeDefiance.com/TrosioMD. In other projects, Dr. Rosio is updating his internationally published book chapter on Cosmetic Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, and a Sun Safe coloring book project for children.

AnewSKIN System 3F's: Fair Freckles Family melanoma 3B's: Burns Bizarre moles Bountiful sun A, B, C, D, E

Contact: See locations and phone numbers below.