Services

• Acne
  • ClearLight
  • Photo Dynamic Therapy
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Pigmentation Abnormalities
  • Vitiligo
  • Melasma
• Skin Cancer
  • Types of Skin Cancer
  • Treatment Options
    • Photo Dynamic Therapy
    • 5-Fluorouracil-Efudex, Carac
    • Aldara
    • Cryosurgery
• Skin Cancer Surgery / Mohs

Types of Skin Cancer

Actinic keratoses (AK) patches or lesions mark the earliest stage of skin cancer development. These small, scaly spots typically occur on the face, ears, neck, scalp, hands, arms and legs of people who have experienced significant sun exposure. AKs can form above or below the skin’s surface, are only a few millimeters in size, and can be flat or raised. They are typically harmless, but 20 percent of them may become cancerous, and patients can have up to 10 times as many undetected AKs under the skin’s surface as visible ones.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer and appears frequently on the head, neck and hands as a small, fleshy bump, nodule or red patch. These slow-growing tumors do not spread to other areas of the body, but if left untreated they often begin to bleed, crust over, heal and repeat the cycle. Basal cell carcinoma can also extend below the skin to bones and nerves, causing considerable local damage.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common skin cancer and typically appears as a bump or red, scaly patch on the face, lips, mouth or rim of the ear. Squamous cell carcinoma can invasively develop into large masses, then spread to other parts of the body. Therefore, it’s very important to seek early treatment.

Malignant melanoma is the most deadly of all skin cancers, but is completely curable when treated early. Melanoma tumors grow from melanocytes—cells that make pigment in the skin—and are typically tan, brown, black, white or even red. Melanoma may appear suddenly or begin in or near a mole or other dark spot in the skin. It’s important to know the location and appearance of moles on the body to detect changes as early as possible. A dermatologist should examine any mole that changes, since early melanoma can be removed while still in its curable stage.