Ask About Skin Cancer Center at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer for adults in the US. Experts estimate that over 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and around 60,000 melanomas are diagnosed each year. Which is why it is so important to be aware of your skin cancer risk, take the right preventative measures, and act quickly in the case that skin cancer is detected.
Skin Cancer Types:
Basal Cell Carcinoma: Typically looks like raised, smooth, pearly bumps. Although basal cell carcinoma can appear anywhere on the body that has had sun exposure, the most common areas usually appear on the upper body such as around the scalp, face, neck, arms, or shoulder areas. It often resembles a sore that fails to heal.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Resembles red, scaling, thickening patches of skin in areas that have experienced heavy sun-exposure over time such as the ears, face, arms, and back of the hands.
Melanoma: Appears as dark (either brown or black) lesions. Melanoma is commonly mistaken for moles, so it’s critical to be aware of any moles that change in size, shape, elevation, or color. A simple way to identify melanoma is to use the ABCDE method of detection, which refers to asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and evolving.
Skin Cancer Risk & Diagnosis:
Skin cancer is not reserved just for those who spend weeks in tanning salons or those who vacation at the beach each year. In fact, many types of skin cancers develop as a result of cumulative sun exposure over the years. Even those times when you were barely sunburned can be damaging.
Thankfully, most skin cancers (if caught early enough) are often easily treatable and rarely advance into a state that is dangerous to your health. Still, it is essential to go for annual skin assessments, or as soon as you notice a new skin lesion, to detect any potential skin cancer when it is in its earliest and most treatable form. We perform skin biopsies to diagnose a potentially cancerous portion of the skin.
Skin Cancer Treatments:
Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery is the most technically advanced treatment for skin cancers, including melanomas. During Mohs surgery, the cancerous lesion is removed layer by layer. This accurate, micrographically controlled procedure is meant to completely remove the cancerous tissue without harming the surrounding tissue. Mohs surgery is the most precise and effective method for removing problem areas and is especially effective for removing tissue on sensitive areas, like the face, with little chance of regrowth or other complications.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses an application of a photosensitizer which, combined with the right wavelength of light, destroys cancerous tissue. The photosensitizer stays in the cancerous and precancerous cells longer than healthy skin cells. When the photosensitizing agent has left normal body cells, exposure to the light causes the precancerous or cancerous cells to be destroyed. Although this is a medical procedure, there can also be cosmetic benefits to the treated area.
Topical Chemotherapy usually comes in the form of a cream or lotion that is placed directly on the skin one or two times a day for several weeks. This treatment can be applied topically or performed as in injection depending on the case.
Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen and the extreme cold it produces to destroy abnormal tissue and skin lesions. Cryosurgery is applied directly on the skin and is used to treat basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Cryosurgery is also effective in the treatment of precancerous skin growths like actinic keratosis.
Laser Treatments can be used to treat certain types of skin cancer in lieu of cryosurgery. The best treatment plan for each individual patient will be decided by our board certified dermatologists or physician assistants.
Spot Treatments vs. Field Therapy
Patients may have only a few cancerous or precancerous lesions, or there may be numerous ones in a single area, which is called field cancerization. For patients with a single or a few precancers, cryotherapy or spot treatment with topically applied medicines are commonly used. For patients with a single or few cancers, Mohs skin cancer removal surgery, excision, and laser skin cancer removal are frequently chosen. For patients with field cancerization, treating all the cancers or precancers with photodynamic therapy (PDT) or using field therapy with a topically applied medicine may be a better strategy. This can be followed with individual lesion treatment if needed.
Skin Cancer FAQs
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells that generally appears on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Due to mutations in DNA, skin cells grow at an abnormally rapid rate and form a mass of cancerous cells. Skin cancer damage is caused by the skin’s exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight, commercial tanning beds and lamps. Skin cancer can also develop on non-UV ray exposed skin with contributing factors being toxic substance exposure or a weakened immune system.
Can skin cancer be prevented?
Most skin cancer develops as a result of uncontrolled replication of damaged skin cells. Typically, the cells’ DNA becomes damaged in response to UV exposure. Therefore, the best way to limit the likelihood that you will develop skin cancer is to prevent sun damage by wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 that protects against sunburn from both UVA and UVB rays. Those with fair skin that burn easily should avoid sun exposure whenever possible and cover up with long-sleeved shirts and hats when outdoors. The second most important skin cancer prevention method is to receive an annual skin cancer body check, as well as getting checked if any new skin lesions appear.
During a skin cancer body check one of DAA’s board-certified dermatologists will scrupulously evaluate sun-exposed areas of skin as well as any areas of concern to look for questionable markings. Since not all skin cancer follows the physical symptoms listed above, it’s important that you do regularly seek skin cancer screenings by a dermatologist who knows what to look for.
What are pre-cancer signs that could lead to skin cancer?
Actinic keratosis, also known as solar keratosis, is a precancerous condition of damaged skin that could eventually lead to squamous cell carcinoma. It is marked by thick, scaly patches of skin that can eventually grow to be bumpy, tough and wart-like. Actinic keratosis is most common in fair skinned people and happens most frequently in sun-exposed areas of the body (face, neck and forearms). Since actinic keratosis can eventually become cancerous, if you suspect it somewhere on your body, you should see a dermatologist as soon as possible.
Other forms of keratosis include keratosis pilaris, often referred to as “chicken skin” for the bumpy texture on hair follicles and seborrheic keratosis, noncancerous skin growths that come with advancing age and can be treated by our board-certified dermatologists or physician assistants.
Can my Mohs surgery take place at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta?
As a dermatology office that has served the Atlanta area for over 40 years and aims to help our patients with all their skin care needs—head to toe— Dermatology Associates of Atlanta is an excellent facility for Mohs surgery. Our board-certified dermatologists have performed a total of more than 10,000 Mohs procedures. Our on-site surgical suite, equipped with the latest technology for Mohs surgery and other dermatological procedures, provides a safe and comforting environment.
Can age spots lead to skin cancer?
While some forms of skin lesions share resemblances to age spots, they cannot lead to the development of skin cancer. It is recommended that patients monitor new skin spots that develop and have them examined by one of our board-certified dermatologists or physician assistants to make sure newly developed skin spots are not cancerous.
Disclaimer: Skin cancer is a very serious condition and should ultimately be diagnosed and treated by a board-certified dermatologist or physician assistant as soon as possible!
