Skin Cancer Specialist

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a malignancy of cells that forms in skin tissues. Several types of skin cancer exist, including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma. At Knight Dermatology Institute, the qualified dermatology team specializes in the detection and treatment of all skin cancers.

What is basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, with approximately 1 million cases diagnosed each year. This type of skin cancer is rarely fatal but can be highly disfiguring if not caught early. You usually recognize basal cell carcinoma as a red, scaly, bleeding lesion.

What is squamous cell carcinoma?

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer, with approximately 250,000 cases diagnosed each year. Like basal cell carcinoma, it’s usually caused by excessive sun exposure.

Squamous cell carcinoma usually shows up as a lesion that won’t heal. When untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can metastasize into your bloodstream and cause serious complications.

How is skin cancer diagnosed?

About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancer is caused by exposure to ultraviolet light, from either time in the sun or tanning beds. Skin cancer usually doesn’t appear for 10-20 years after exposure, so if you were a beach junkie or sun worshipper in your youth, you may develop skin cancer in your later adult years.

A thorough physical exam by a provider with a trained eye, such as those at Knight Dermatology Institute, can help you identify suspicious spots. Any areas that suggest skin cancer are biopsied and sent to a board-certified pathologist for review. In many cases, these suspicious spots are just fine, but occasionally they are diagnosed as skin cancer.

If you find any suspicious spots, get them evaluated immediately by Knight Dermatology Institute. Skin cancer is much easier to treat in its earliest stages.

How is skin cancer treated?

Skin cancer is usually treated with surgical excision and possibly radiation, but newer therapies offer alternatives depending on the type and severity of your cancer. These alternative therapies include topical immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy.

Treatment of squamous cell skin cancer and basal cell carcinoma is usually successful but does depend on the location, severity, and stage of cancer’s progression. Melanoma is an especially deadly form of skin cancer that is best treated in its earliest stages.

If you have suspicious lesions or have spent a lot of time in the sun, make an appointment for a physical skin exam at Knight Dermatology Institute. Call the office or book an appointment online.