Dr. Shannon McKeen, of Apex Dermatology, says the most important form of skin cancer treatment is early detection

By Laura Briedis

Though Apex Dermatology has grown to seven locations since opening its first office in Concord in 2011, its presence and support for the local community where it all started remains steadfast.

Along with Apex founder Dr. Jorge Garcia-Zuazaga, Dr. Shannon McKeen, who has split her time the past two years between the Concord and Mayfield Heights offices, is now working full-time in Concord.

“I am fully vested in the community,” says Dr. McKeen. “I have developed strong relationships with my patients and I am here to meet their growing needs.”

In addition to working in the Apex office during the week, you can find Dr. McKeen out and about in the community doing skin cancer screenings at area businesses, participating in community health fairs and networking with other local health care providers.

An Indiana native who played softball at Ball State University and who now is a big fan of Cleveland sports teams, Dr. McKeen shares Dr. Garcia’s enthusiasm and passion for the field of dermatology.

With a mission to transform people’s lives through healthy skin—whether helping a patient to become cancer free, improving the acne of a teenage patient or smoothing away wrinkles—Dr. McKeen is empowering her patients.

A very approachable and interactive physician, Dr. McKeen focuses on educating patients, not just treating them.

At Apex, patients are taught to watch for the “ABCDEs of melanoma” to detect potentially dangerous spots. They are instructed on how to look for asymmetry, irregular borders with jagged edges, spots with multiple colors, 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.

“During a skin exam, I educate patients about the spots on their body and what they should be looking for, so they become part of their own care,” says Dr. McKeen. “This way, they know what to look for and when to notify me of any concerns.”

“I recommend that patients also look for non-melanoma cancers, such as red, pimple-sized bumps and red rough or scaly spots that don’t go away,” she adds. “By looking at your skin in between doctor visits, you can see if there is something new or growing.”

Dr. McKeen also cautions that even though the strong summer rays are gone, it is important to wear sunscreen year-round.

“You are still exposed to damaging rays that cause cancer and premature aging of the skin in the fall and winter,” she says. “I recommend not only applying SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen year-round, but also using medical-grade sunscreen products that protect against infrared rays from indoor light sources.”

Apex Dermatology is located at 7580 Auburn Road, Suite 301, in Concord. Other Apex offices are located in Solon, Mayfield Heights, Hudson, Medina, Parma and Westlake. To schedule an appointment, call 833-279-SKIN(7546). For more information, visit ApexSkin.com.