Dysplastic Nevi vs Normal Moles: Spotting Critical Differences
Most moles are harmless. But if one doesn’t look like your other moles or shows specific warning signs, it might be worth seeing a dermatologist. Learn what to watch for here.
Why Winter Is the Perfect Time for Your Mohs Surgery
Skin cancer detection and treatment have advanced significantly. Today, many cases of skin cancer can be successfully treated and cured. One option is particularly effective, even when the cancerous area has grown relatively large. Mohs surgery delivers a cure rate of about 99%.
Ali Hendi, MD, and Kristina Lim, DO, offer Mohs surgery at our office in Chevy Chase, Maryland, offering people in the greater Washington, DC, area, northern Virginia, and the eastern shore of Maryland a way to remove skin cancer while still protecting as much of their surrounding healthy tissue as possible.
The recovery process for Mohs depends on how deep we need to go to get all of the cancerous cells. Understanding how the procedure works helps highlight why winter is an ideal time to schedule this procedure.
What to expect with Mohs surgery
Mohs surgery is a multi-step process that allows us to confirm that all of the cancerous cells have been removed.
During the first step, we numb the area, then remove the visible cancerous cells along with a thin layer of tissue surrounding it. Our team then looks at the removed sample under a microscope. If we can see cancerous cells on the edges or the bottom of the sample, we repeat the process.
We continue these steps until we have a confirmed cancer-free layer underneath and around what we’ve removed. This way, we can be confident we’ve excised all the cancerous cells.
After your procedure is complete, you’ll need to keep the surgery site bandaged and avoid strenuous activity for at least a week. Fortunately, wintertime makes it easier to follow your doctor’s instructions for recovering.
The benefits of a wintertime Mohs procedure
Winter generally makes it easier to protect your surgery site as it heals. Shorter days mean your skin is less exposed to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, supporting your healing process.
Also, you’re more likely to wear clothing that covers the surgery site, protecting the area from the sun. And because most of us sweat less in the winter, the risk for infection is lower. Infections thrive in damp environments. The cold, dry time of year helps you defend against this potential source of complications.
Additionally, cold weather can help reduce inflammation. All told, winter’s a great time of year to have this procedure done.
To schedule your Mohs surgery or have our team examine a spot on your skin, call our office at 301-812-4591 or book your appointment online today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Why Some Lipomas Need Removal While Others Can Wait
A lipoma might look like a tumor, but it’s actually just a benign mass of fatty tissue under your skin. Still, some lipomas need to be removed. Learn what kind of care your lipoma may need here.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Warning Signs You Might Miss
You may be familiar with the warning signs of melanoma, but basal cell carcinoma is the more common kind of skin cancer. Here, we outline some warning signs to watch for.
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.
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.