You may be surprised to learn that exposure to the sun can be just as damaging in winter as in summer. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can inflict damage on the head, neck and ears that often remain uncovered during the cold winter months.

That's one reason why dermatologists Dr. Michael Bell and Dr. Christina Feser are conducting a free Skin Cancer Screening Clinic Saturday, Nov. 1, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Murfreesboro Dermatology Clinic, 1725 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 300. Please call 615.893.4100 to make an appointment. Every person who schedules an appointment will receive a free full-body exam by either Dr. Bell or Dr. Feser.

"We're celebrating our 15-year anniversary in Murfreesboro this year, and want to offer this free clinic to the community as a way to say 'thank you' for 15 great years. Also, we want to emphasize to people that it's vital to have a full-body skin exam regularly. It's important that people catch any potential skin problems, especially in hard-to-see areas, like the back and the scalp, before they have a chance to grow," said Dr. Bell.

"In addition, we're welcoming Dr. Feser to our practice, which means we have another dermatologist on board to serve patients in middle Tennessee."

Did you know?

• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.
• Patients with melanomas of the head and neck -- including the scalp -- are almost twice as likely to die from the disease as patients with melanomas on other areas, including the trunk, facial skin and ears.
• More than 3.5 million skin cancers in more than two million people are diagnosed annually.
• More than 30 percent of all facial basal cell carcinomas (the most common skin cancers) occur on the nose, making it the most frequent site for skin cancers of the head and neck.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
• Skin cancers of the eyelids account for 5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers.

About Murfreesboro Dermatology Clinic:

Murfreesboro Dermatology Clinic, PLC, and MDC Aesthetics Center have three locations throughout middle Tennessee, in Murfreesboro, Smyrna and Winchester; a fourth location will open in January 2015 in Mt. Juliet. Founder Dr. Michael W. Bell moved to Tennessee in 1996 after attending medical school at the University of Calgary, completing his dermatology residency at McGill University in Montreal and his pathology residency at the University of Toronto. Dr. Bell is board-certified in dermatology and pathology. He is currently the Vice Chair of the Tennessee Chapter, American Dermatology Foundation. Dr. Christina Feser completed her internship at Case Western Reserve University and her dermatology residency at Michigan State University. She has a special interest and research experience in alopecia, or hair loss. Visit dermclinics.com for more information.