Skin Cancer
Prevention and Early Signs Are Your Best Defence
Skin Cancer in Bridgeland, Cypress, TX
If a mole that you had never seen before suddenly appears, if you have a weird scab that doesn’t seem to heal, it’s worth going to a doctor about it. It could be a sign of skin cancer.
With around 9.500 people in the US receiving the diagnosis on a daily basis, it is the most common type of cancer, and can be treated swiftly if detected early on.
Magnolia Dermatology in Bridgeland, Cypress, Texas, shares what symptoms to look out for and why getting a full check is essential to your skin’s health.
What Is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer like any other type of cancer is the rapid and uncontrolled multiplication of cells. In this case, the ones at the top layer of your dermis. Excessive UV light and radiation affect the DNA that controls how often and how many cells should be replaced, creating the overproduction.
Skin cancer can look like a bumpy mole, a scaly dark spot or a small wound that doesn’t heal properly. Because it’s mostly a result of too much sun exposure, the most common areas to find it are the arms, face, hands and back.
If you are worried about any new marks on your skin, the best thing to do is to contact a dermatologist, as they know what to look for in them and can confirm if there is anything that needs to be taken care of.
Skin Cancer Types
There are three types of skin cancer that appear the most in people. Each of them presents differently and has treatment plans that respond to how aggressively it behaves:
☝ To consider: presentations of skin cancer may look different for people with darker or olive skin tones. It’s important to take this into account, and if a spot looks off but doesn’t match the normative descriptions, follow your instincts and look at how skin cancer presents on different skin tones.
Common Questions
Cancer is a very serious illness, and getting anxious about having it is normal. Here, Magnolia Dermatology answers important questions regarding skin cancer that can help you put things into perspective
What Causes Skin Cancer?
The most common cause is getting too much UV (ultraviolet) light exposure due to the sun. Without the proper covering or protection, skin cells take too much of a burden, especially if it’s habitual or if the burn is bad enough to blister.
Other risk factors for skin cancer are:
- Using tanning beds
- Having fair skin or light-colored eyes and hair
- Precancerous growths (actinic keratosis)
- Having several moles
- Taking immunosuppressant medications
- A history of cancer in the family
Skin cancer tends to be more likely as we age, so getting general check-ups after you turn 30 is advised.
What Treatments for Skin Cancer Are There?
Dr. Robare, the head of our healthcare center in Bridgeland and Cypress, Texas, is a board-certified dermatologist, and she shares the different possible treatments that can be provided at Magnolia Dermatology depending on the type of skin cancer and the stage of the growth:
- Curettage and electrodesiccation: a surface scrape that removes most of the cancerous cells, followed by an electrical current that kills the remaining ones.
- Surgical excision: Cutting out the skin with a scalpel. Some healthy tissue will also be removed.
- Mohs surgery: Removing layer by layer of the skin cancer guided by a microscope.
- Cryotherapy: freezing the cancerous growth, usually with liquid nitrogen or argon gas.
- Photodynamic therapy: a light-sensitive liquid is applied and absorbed by the cancer spot, and exposed to a LED laser that creates a reaction, killing the cells.
Skin Cancer Prevention
The best thing you can do to prevent skin cancer is to provide your body protection from UV light, especially from the sun. Applying sun screen every day on the face, including eyelids, hairline, and nose is essential, as well as protecting arms and hands, and especially if you like to dress lightly.
Wearing a cap, a hat or sun protective clothes can also be an excellent way to help protect your skin, and are convenient for people that struggle with sensitive skin or sensory issues.
Getting a check-up regularly so that a dermatologist can take a look at any suspicious marks is one of the most powerful tools there is to catch cancer in it’s early stages, and it can even raise the alarms for precancerous growths before they evolve.
Read more: Skincare
Where to Treat Skin Cancer in Bridgeland, Cypress, Texas
If you have doubts about a mole or a weird looking spot in your skin, and want to get in contact with a highly qualified dermatology office in Bridgeland, Cypress, Texas, Magnolia Dermatology is here to provide our expert services. Our team of professionals led by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Samantha Robare can help you ease your anxieties and find the best treatment for you if a cancerous growth is found.
Contact us to schedule an appointment and monitor your skin to preserve your good health.