Free skin cancer screening: Apex Dermatology can assure you that your spot really is just a mole

By Laura Briedis

Just because we have put away our swimsuits for the summer doesn’t mean we don’t have to worry about skin cancer. When our skin is covered by layers of clothing in the winter, we actually need to be more diligent about detecting suspicious spots on our body.

“It is important you become familiar with all the spots on your body so you can recognize if they change or new ones appear,” says Dr. Lauren Karpinski, who treats patients at the Apex Dermatology office in Medina.

“We have a saying in dermatology, ‘on your birthday, check your birthday suit,’ as a reminder that you need an annual skin exam,” says Dr. Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga, founder of Apex Dermatology.

“Oftentimes when a patient comes in to have us check a suspicious spot, that specific mole may be benign, but we may find other areas of concern because dermatologists are specially trained,” says Dr. Garcia, who served as a U.S. Marine flight surgeon and earned an MBA from Case Weatherhead School of Management and a degree in biomedical engineering from Marquette University.

Drs. Garcia and Karpinski warn that people should watch for the “ABCDEs of melanoma” to detect potentially dangerous spots. Look for asymmetry, irregular borders with jagged or notched edges, spots with multiple colors, a diameter that exceeds the size of a pencil eraser and any areas that are evolving—either by getting larger, bleeding, crusting, itching, shrinking or becoming bumpy.

“If you see a suspicious lesion, don’t wait. The longer you hold off the more advanced therapies you may need,” advises Dr. Karpinski. “I like putting patients at ease when I don’t find anything, but if I do, I am there to guide them through the treatment process and support them every step of the way.”

Dr. Garcia has performed more than 20,000 skin cancer surgeries, 15,000 of them being his specialty, Mohs micrographic surgery. This specialized technique for removing skin cancer provides the highest cure rates.

“Skin cancer is my passion,” he says. “For me, it’s about connecting with the patient and helping them go through the process with ease and confidence.”

In 2013, The American Red Cross named Dr. Garcia a Red Cross Hero for his work in detecting and treating skin cancer. He was specifically applauded for his SPOTcheck Program, which guarantees patients will be seen within 24 hours if they find a suspicious spot that is new, scaling, painful or bleeding.

And to help more Northeast Ohioans, Apex is expanding its reach. In September, Apex opened a new office in Medina and in October an office in Westlake is slated to open. These two offices will join the other five facilities, located in Concord, Mayfield Heights, Solon, Hudson and Parma, to offer comprehensive skin cancer surgery, medical dermatology and innovative aesthetic services.

Apex Dermatology has seven locations to serve Northeast Ohio:

• Medina
• Mayfield Heights
• Parma
• Concord
• Hudson
• Solon
• Westlake (coming soon)

To schedule an appointment in your area, call 833-279-SKIN (7546). Visit ApexSkin.comfor office addresses and detailed information on services offered and to schedule appointments online.