Tampa dermatologist responds to Hugh Jackman’s third skin cancer treatment

With new reports that Hugh Jackman has been diagnosed and treated for skin cancer, Tampa dermatologist Dr. Seth Forman is stressing the importance of protecting your skin.

The news marks the third time the actor, who suffers from the most common type of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma, has been treated in the past year.

The Tampa dermatologist says that using sunscreen is the first step in protecting your skin from the sun.

“Sun damage is cumulative,” says Dr. Forman. “The earlier in life you protect yourself from harmful rays, the better.”

Basal cell carcinoma is a skin cancer characterized by open sores or red patches on the skin that arises in the basal cells, a type of cell in the epidermis that works to produce new skin cells that replace the old ones. Tumor sites are found mainly in areas of the skin that have undergone long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, if left untreated, basil cell carcinoma can become highly disfiguring to the skin. Although almost always curable, the possibility of re-developing the cancer in the future is likely.

In addition to sunscreen, the Tampa dermatologist adds that there are several prevention tips that can decrease the chances of getting skin cancer.

“Seeking shade at the appropriate times, avoiding tanning booths and having yearly skin exams should become habitual,” says Dr. Forman. “It’s important for everyone to establish a daily routine in order to avoid the development of skin cancer.”

Dr. Forman is the founder of Forman Dermatology and Skin institute, located in Tampa, Fla. and has appeared on TV shows across the country, including the nationally syndicated show “The Doctors” to provide sun-protection tips and to demonstrate his breakthrough skin cancer treatments.

For more on Dr. Seth Forman, Tampa dermatology or Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, please visit www.FormanDerm.com.

About Dr. Seth Forman: Dr. Forman is a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Tampa, Florida. He was voted the “Best Dermatologist in Carrollwood” in August 2011 by the Carrollwood News and Tribune. In December 2011, he opened his new Tampa dermatology office, Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, where he gives psoriasis sufferers access to the latest treatment options, including topical and oral medications, as well as biological and phototherapy. Dr. Forman is one of the few Tampa dermatologists to offer narrowband light therapy, which uses pharmaceutical grade light to suppress psoriasis. He’s also one of the few board-certified dermatologists in the U.S. to use the SRT-100 radiotherapy to treat basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.