LAHAINA — Free skin cancer screenings sponsored by the American Academy, Dr. Lorrie Klein and Minit-Medical Urgent Care Clinic will be held Thursday, Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. until the early afternoon at Minit Medical Urgent Care in Lahaina.

The screenings are part of a national campaign to encourage early detection and teach prevention of skin cancer. More than one million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year.

The academy’s national Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening prevention program is in its 25th year. It’s intended to raise awareness of melanoma and urge Americans to regularly examine their skin for signs of this serious form of skin cancer.

Skin self-examinations consist of periodically looking over your body for any changes in the size, color, shape or texture of a mole, the development of a new mole or any other unusual changes in the skin. Any of these signs should be reported to a dermatologist right away.

To do a thorough exam, it’s important to use a full-length and hand-held mirror, so you can see the back of your head, back and buttocks. 

Don’t forget places like your scalp, the soles of your feet and between your toes, under your arms and the palms of your hands.

A survey commissioned by the academy showed that fewer than one-third of Americans currently examine their skin for signs of melanoma, and more than half don’t know the signs of melanoma. 

Dermatologists want to raise awareness on screenings, because when treated in its earliest stages, melanoma can be cured. If not treated early, the disease can quickly spread to other parts of the body and can be fatal.

“The key to the successful treatment of most types of cancer is early detection and treatment,” Dr. Klein said. 

Current estimates indicate that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

One American dies from melanoma almost every hour. More than 75 percent of skin cancer deaths are caused by melanoma.

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, the American Academy of Dermatology was founded in 1938. With a membership of more than 16,000 physicians worldwide, the academy is committed to advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. 

For more information, contact the academy at www.aad.org or Minit Medical at (808) 667-6161.

Minit Medical is located in Unit 507 in the Lahaina Gateway Shopping Center at 305 Keawe St.