Summer Sun Exposure Myths That Actually Increase Your Cancer Risk
Summer means long daylight hours and, along with it, more sun exposure. With that in mind, we want to bust a few myths that could be putting you at risk for skin cancer.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Warning Signs You Might Miss
Since melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer, lots of people learn how to watch for it. You might know to look for moles with irregular edges or spots bigger than a pencil eraser.
However, melanoma isn’t the only kind of skin cancer that can affect you. There’s a much more common type: basal cell carcinoma. About 80% of skin cancer cases come from this category.
Today, we want to help you learn to watch for the signs of basal cell carcinoma. As specialists in this kind of skin cancer, Ali Hendi, MD, and Kristina Lim, DO, compiled some warning signs to watch for.
If you want to get a set of expert eyes on any suspicious areas, you can visit us for a skin cancer screening at our office in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
What basal cell carcinoma can look like
Melanoma tends to look dark in color, so people watch for highly visible spots on their skin. Basal cell carcinoma, on the other hand, is often pale. In fact, it might not change the color of your skin at all, only the texture.
Some warning signs of this kind of skin cancer include:
- A small, shiny growth
- A pearly or pink bump
- Bumps with blue, black, or brown parts
- A growth that dips in the middle
- An area that looks like a scar (shiny or tight), but there’s been no injury
- A raised red patch
- A patch of skin that itches
- Sores that don’t heal or heal but come back
- A crusty area
- A patch with small, visible blood vessels
- A small area that looks waxy
Also, make sure you’re checking around your ears for any skin changes, including scaly areas. Basal cell carcinoma is particularly common around your ears.
If you’re up for it, looking at some pictures of basal cell carcinoma can help you identify this kind of skin cancer more quickly.
What to do if you see signs of basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma can take many forms. If you spot any of these warning signs on your skin, come see us. We can evaluate the spot and determine if it’s skin cancer.
If it is, we offer treatment right here in our office. Fortunately, basal cell carcinoma has an extremely high cure rate. We can determine if a simple biopsy will be enough to remove the cancerous cells.
In some cases, you might need a more involved treatment called Mohs surgery. This essentially means removing the visible cancerous cells and examining what we remove under a microscope to make sure we got everything. If we didn’t, we repeat the process, checking it under the microscope again. Mohs surgery gives you a highly effective way to get rid of cancerous cells while minimizing scarring. This treatment has a 99% cure rate for basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma is very curable when caught early. Keep an eye on your skin for any of the above warning signs so we can proactively address potentially cancerous spots.
If you see a possible issue and want to have an area evaluated, call our office at 301-812-4591 or schedule an appointment online today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Should I Be Concerned About a New Mole?
A new mole isn’t an immediate cause for concern. It’s worth checking thoroughly and watching for changes, though. Let’s go over some signs that indicate you should talk to your dermatologist about your mole.
5 Risk Factors for Melanoma
Melanoma is a relatively rare skin cancer, but it can be deadly. If you have any of these risk factors, it’s worth getting your skin checked.
How to Tell If You Have Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Learn what squamous cell carcinoma looks like and how to protect your overall health if you discover a potentially cancerous spot.
Your Guide to Cyst Removal
Cysts aren’t cancerous and usually don’t need to be removed. But if your cyst becomes infected, is otherwise painful, or you want to get rid of it for cosmetic reasons, here’s what you need to know.
Basal Cell Carcinoma: Your Treatment Options Explained
If you’ve been diagnosed with the most common type of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma — you’ll be glad to know you have treatment options. Here are four that can help eliminate the cancerous cells.