SKIN CANCER

If you have an increased risk, it is advisable to see your dermatologist annually for skin examinations. There are many factors that can contribute to an increased risk of skin cancer such as:

• Having fair skin – If you have fair skin that tends to burn easily, blond or red hair and light eyes.
• Excessive sun exposure – Many people work outside every day in warmer climates, others just spend more time outside. In these cases, the skin should be protected with sunscreen or clothing that reduces sun exposure. Tanning beds also increase exposure to UV radiation.
• History of sunburns – Having had one or more sunburns that resulted in blistering and peeling of the skin either as a child, teenager or older adult.

• Family history – Many types of cancer, such as melanomas, tend to run in families as a genetic risk factor.
• Moles – Having one or more of a certain type of mole called dysplastic nevi. These moles should be checked regularly for changes to increase the chance of early detection and successful treatment.
• Personal history of skin cancer – Having skin cancer in the past, increases the chance of developing it again.

With proper precautions, you can minimize your risk of developing skin cancers. Complexions Dermatology suggests the following tips to help prevent it and improve the chances of early detection for better treatment outcomes. 

• Commitment to wearing sunscreen – Applying sunscreen before going out into the sun, even on cloudy days can help reduce the risk. A broad-spectrum sunscreen applied generously throughout the day will help protect your skin from UV radiation known to be cancer-causing and prematurely aging.
• Seek shade or stay inside during peak hours of the day – The sun is the strongest between 10 am and 4 pm and you are most likely to get a sunburn during these hours. Planning activities before or after the peak hours will help avoid the damaging effects of UV radiation exposure.
• Say no to tanning beds – Tanning beds have long been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer due to the UV rays that are emitted from tanning bed light bulbs. It is best to avoid tanning beds or use them as infrequently as possible.
• Protective clothing when working outside can help prevent UV exposure. A new trend in clothing utilizes a photoprotective material that is made into shirts and pants that help block UV rays.

Complexions Dermatology of Danville and Colonial Heights, Virginia, strongly believes that early detection is one of the best tools to help minimize the impact of serious health ramifications related to untreated or progressive skin cancers. We advise patients to become familiar with their skin and inspect it about once a month for changes or new freckles or moles. Becoming familiar with your skin or your partner’s skin will help you recognize any changes that may be occurring and will increase the likelihood of positive treatment outcomes. If you are looking for dermatologists call us today at our Danville location (434) 792-0423 or our Colonial Heights location (804) 805-8442.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and statistics show that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by age 70. Early detection of skin cancer through annual visits to the dermatologist and self-inspection can improve the success of treatment and, often, can effectuate a cure. If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, it is vital to obtain an accurate diagnosis of the type of cancer so that the most effective treatment options can be offered. The most common forms of skin cancer are:

While most skin cancers will need to be removed, small nonmelanoma skin cancers on the surface of the skin can be totally excised with a biopsy. Different surgical techniques are used depending on how large the cancer is and the type of cancer. It is possible to have some small skin cancers removed in the office using a local anesthetic. All treatments for skin cancer as well as the mode of removal will depend on the size, type and depth of the skin lesion.

The most common form of skin cancer in the United States is basal cell carcinoma or BCC. Basal cell carcinoma is a slow growing cancer and rarely spreads to other parts of the body; however, it does need to be treated. The basal cell layer is located in the lower part of the epidermis of the skin. The slow growing nature of a basal cell carcinoma means that it may not develop until many years after long term sun exposure. Basal cell carcinoma are most often found in areas of the body that are repeatedly exposed to the sun such as the head, face, ears, neck, chest and shoulders.

It is important, especially if you are regularly exposed to sunlight through work or lifestyle, that you are familiar with your skin and any changes that may be occurring that may signify a potential problem. Basal cell carcinomas can take on a wide range of characteristics but usually, start as a growth that may bleed easily and is slow to heal. Other characteristics associated with BCC include:

• Open sore or sores that do not readily heal, possibly bleeding, oozing and crusting over. 
• Shiny bump or nodule that can appear clear or pearly, pink, red or white.
• Red patch of irritated skin on the face, lips or chest that may or may not itch, cause discomfort or hurt.
• Small pink growth that may have a modestly raised edge and a depressed center that can appear raw or crusted over.

Early detection of basal cell carcinoma offers the most successful treatment outcomes and the least impact to the skin around the lesion. Complexions Dermatology will examine your skin and perform a skin biopsy to remove part or all of the lesion which will help guide an accurate diagnosis of your particular skin lesion. An accurate diagnosis of your skin lesion will help drive the most targeted treatment plan that is best for you.

With the goal of removing all of the basal cell carcinomas, surgical excision is usually the highest standard of care. The cancer will be removed as well as a margin of healthy skin that surrounds the lesion to ensure that all of the cancer is removed. The margins will be examined further to validate that no cancer cells are present and the surgical excision procedure was successful.

If you notice any change in your skin or an area of skin that appears irritated and does not heal quickly, contact Complexions Dermatology at our Danville location (434) 792-0423 or our Colonial Heights location (804) 805-8442. Our team of highly trained skin experts has experience and expertise in diagnosing and treating skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma.

Squamous cells are naturally occurring skin cells located in the middle to outer layer of the epidermis. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the abnormal growth of squamous cells and is the second most common form of skin cancer after basal cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer occurs as a result of damage to the skin’s DNA usually from long-term exposure to UV rays. It most frequently occurs on sun-exposed parts of the body like the:

• Ears
• Scalp
• Face
• Back of hands
• Lips
• Neck

Squamous cell carcinomas can also form inside the mouth and on the bottoms of your feet. 

Squamous cell cancers occur in a frequency of 2 out of 10 skin cancer cases, and while it is a rarer skin cancer than basal cell, it is more likely to grow deeper into the layers of skin as well as spread to other parts of the body. In general, SCC is not life-threatening; however, it can be aggressive and therefore needs to be removed and treated. 

As with most skin cancer, long-term exposure to UV rays from sunlight increases the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma. There are additional risk factors that can lead to SCC such as:

• Advanced age
• Fair skin to include fair hair color and light eyes
• Exposed to radiation such as with cancer treatments
• Living in warm climates, sunny regions or high altitudes
• History of multiple, severe sunburns especially if they occurred early in life
• Exposure to harsh chemicals, such as arsenic 

If you are regularly exposed to sunlight through work or lifestyle, it is important that you are familiar with your skin and any changes that may be occurring that may signify a potential problem. SCC can appear rough, pink or red and scaly in its early stages. Changes in the scaly patch of skin begin to occur over time transforming the squamous cell carcinoma into a raised bump. The patch of skin may bleed readily if bumped or scraped accidentally. It is important to notify your dermatologist and schedule an appointment if you notice any rough, scaly patches of skin that bleed easily. Additional characteristics associated with squamous cell carcinoma include:

• Red, firm nodule
• Flat, scaly crusted sore with raised edges and a depressed area in the center
• Any new sore that does not heal or bleeds easily 
• Rough, scaly patch of skin on the lip that may become an open sore
• Squamous cell carcinoma can form on the inside soft tissue of the mouth as a rough patch 

When detected early, squamous cell carcinoma is highly treatable and even curable. Early detection of squamous cell carcinoma offers the most successful treatment outcomes and the least impact to the skin around the lesion. The lesion will need to be removed immediately following a diagnosis to prevent the spread. Complexions Dermatology will examine your skin and perform a skin biopsy to remove a part or all of the lesion which will help guide an accurate diagnosis of your particular skin lesion. An accurate diagnosis of your skin lesion is essential when planning the most effective treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma.

Depending on the location and how early the SCC is detected, Complexions Dermatology may offer surgical excision to remove the cancerous area of skin. The goal is to remove all of the squamous cell carcinoma, including a margin of skin around the lesion to ensure that all of the cancer cells have been removed. The margins will be sent to pathology to validate that no cancer cells are present and the surgical excision procedure was successful.

If you notice any change in your skin or an area of skin that appears irritated and does not heal quickly, contact Complexions Dermatology at our Danville location (434) 792-0423 or our Colonial Heights location (804) 805-8442. Our team of highly trained skin experts has experience and expertise in diagnosing and treating skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma.

Although it is less common than basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. Melanoma has the potential to grow and spread quickly and therefore it is vital to catch melanoma early to increase the chances for curative treatment. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that there is a 99% five-year survival rate when melanoma is caught early.

Melanomas can present with a wide range of colors and shapes and therefore, it is crucial that all patients, and especially patients with increased risk factors, become familiar with the moles and freckles on their body. Melanomas commonly appear black or brown in color with an asymmetrical look and an irregular border. They may also appear pink, tan or white in color. Melanomas can form on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands and under the fingernails and toenails.

Melanomas develop in skin cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin and are responsible for giving your skin its color or pigment. It is thought that exposure to UV rays from sunlight increases the risk of developing melanoma as UV radiation damages the DNA of the cells. When the DNA of skin cells is damaged it can cause the new cells to grow abnormally or at an abnormal rate, which then can produce a mass of cancerous cells or a tumor. There are additional risk factors that can increase the chance of developing melanoma such as genetics and environmental exposure to radiation and caustic chemicals as well as:

• Having fair skin, light hair and light eyes
• Tanning bed use
• Living in warm climates close to the equator or at high elevations
• Having more than 50 regular moles and having unusual types of moles  

During your monthly personal skin checks, you should look for anything new or any mole that has changed. Melanomas can form anywhere on the body; however sun exposed areas such as the legs, neck, ears and trunk of the body are important areas to check. As a guide, dermatologists have created the ABCDEs of melanoma to help people identify changes in moles or developing moles. Look for the signs:

• Asymmetry – mole is not round or symmetrical when divided in half
• Border irregularities such as scalloped or raised edges
• Color – uneven distribution of colors black, brown and tan, and if a mole has multiple colors
• Diameter – greater than 6mm (the size of a pencil eraser)
• Evolving – changing in size, color or shape over time as well as bleeding, itching or crusting

Due to the aggressive nature of melanomas, early detection is crucial to getting the best prognosis. If you are ever in doubt about a mole, the best advice is to reach out to your dermatologist right away. Complexions Dermatology of Danville, VA encourages all patients to perform monthly skin exams at home and maintain yearly dermatology appointments for thorough skin examinations. If you suspect a mole is changing or you have any questions or concerns about your skin, call us at our Danville location (434)792-0423 or our Colonial Heights location 804-805-8442.

Obtaining the best treatment for melanoma begins with an accurate diagnosis of the disease. Your doctor will perform a physical examination and look for signs that may be indicative of melanoma. Next, a biopsy (or removal of a small tissue sample) will be necessary to send to pathology to determine the presence of melanoma cancer cells. The complete surgical removal of the melanoma will be required to stage the disease and excise a margin of tissue around the melanoma to ensure that all of the cancer cells have been removed.

There are new and promising treatments available for patients who have been diagnosed with melanoma. At Complexions Dermatology, we will discuss the treatment options available and help you choose the best treatment options for you. Some types of treatment include:

• Targeted therapies
• Immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy

The providers at Complexions Dermatology will help guide you in determining the best course of treatment for your specific stage and type of cancer. If you have any questions or concerns about melanoma or treatment therapies call us today at our Danville location (434) 792-0423 or our Colonial Heights location (804) 805-8442.