Skin cancer is the most frequent type of cancer and could be fatal if it remains unaddressed. Skin cancer tests regularly with Patricia O’Connor, MD, and the experienced staff at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Chesterfield, and Glen Allen, VA, assure early diagnosis and care to avoid issues. To arrange a skin cancer Glen Allen appointment, contact the office over the phone or set up an initial consultation online.
What Exactly is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is characterized by unusual cell development, which frequently happens due to exposure to sunlight. Skin cancer is classified into three types: melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Regular skin cancer screenings are the most effective strategy to identify these disorders before they generate significant medical issues.
Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center conducts full-body screenings to detect suspected skin cancer. All of their practitioners have completed additional training in dermoscopy (the use of a handheld dermatoscope) to evaluate the likelihood of malignancy in a particular lesion accurately. The practice also has a Mohs surgeon on staff who could address difficult skin malignancies as well as cancers in delicate and aesthetically sensitive places.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer?
The following are some signs and symptoms to look out for if you suspect you have skin cancer:
v Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinomas are most prevalently found on sun-exposed skin, such as the neck and face. It may resemble a flesh-colored scar, a bleeding or blistered sore, a gleaming lesion, or a waxy lump.
v Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinomas may manifest as a crusty, scaly lesion or as a hard, red nodule. It could be visible on your hands, face, ears, or other sun-exposed regions of your body. It is usually followed by scaling patches known as actinic keratoses.
v Melanoma
Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and could appear on skin that is seldom vulnerable to sunlight, such as the soles of your feet or the groin. It may appear as a huge mole featuring dark flecks, a mole, which modifies size or color, a lesion with an uneven border, or a bleeding mole. What’s more, it could be white, red, bluish, black, or pink and may bleed, burn, itch, or cause agonizing pain.
What Factors Increase the Likelihood of You Suffering Skin Cancer?
Although skin cancer could affect anyone, the following factors increase one’s chances of having it:
· Long exposure to the sun
· Toxin or radiation exposure
· Sunburns, particularly blistering sunburns, in the past
· A record of unusual moles or over 50 moles
· Skin cancer in the family or individual history
· Light skin tone
· Dwelling in a sunny climate
· A compromised immune system
· Actinic keratoses (scaly, rough patch on your skin)
The most effective strategy to reduce your danger of skin cancer is to safeguard your skin from direct sunlight. Wear sunscreen, protective clothing, and caps all year. Stay away from tanning beds.
In conjunction with skin cancer screening screenings with Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center specialists, conduct regular at-home skin checks.
How Is Skin Cancer Identified?
Your dermatologist will perform a medical assessment of your skin and use a dermatoscope to examine any problematic lesions. Upon evaluating your symptoms and health records, they may perform a skin biopsy to excise a complete potentially malicious lesion or a portion of a lesion and submit it to a dermatopathologist for microscopic study. Skin cancer must be diagnosed via a microscopic examination.
What is the Treatment for Skin Cancer?
The kind of skin cancer, the degree and extent of skin involvement, and the region of the body all influence care. Based on these criteria, therapies range from aggressive to conservative and entail:
· Immune-boosting topicals
· Mohs surgery
· Excisional surgery
· Curettage and electrodesiccation
In Mohs surgery, your specialist eliminates skin developments layer by layer whilst inspecting the margins underneath a microscope.
If your skin cancer is extensive, an oncologist will work with you to design an interdisciplinary care plan.
Do not let skin cancer go undiscovered because early diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment. Call Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center or use the online booking tool to schedule an appointment right away.