Skin Cancer: All That You Should Know | Dermatologist in Southlake, TX

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Skin cancer occurs when skin cells start growing in a destructive manner. These cells originate from the topmost layer of the skin, which is referred to as the epidermis, and generally don’t spread to other body parts. In many cases, skin cancer isn’t life threatening, but you should still ensure that you’re following a proper treatment plan as recommended by your dermatologist in Southlake, TX.

What are the main kinds of skin cancer?

Skin cancer can be divided into three main types. The most common of these is basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Other forms include melanoma, sarcomas, lymphomas and Merkel cells cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common cancer. A dermatologist in Southlake, TX suggests that over a million cases of this cancer are diagnosed in the US alone.  Basal cell carcinoma can further be divided into the nodular type which is the most common of all three types.  Superficial type is another kind of basal cell carcinoma, and generally isn’t worrisome, and the last kind is morpheaform, which is the most difficult to treat. In this case, the tumor growth merges with the surrounding tissues without any clear boundaries.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is diagnosed in about 20% of all skin cases. A dermatologist in Southlake, TX stated that this cancer is mostly common in individuals with a suppressed immune system. Biologically, this cancer is pretty much like basal cell carcinoma, but as a dermatologist in Southlake, TX puts it, this type of skin cancer has a greater chance of spreading to distant body parts.

What are the main causes of skin cancer?

Skin cancer occurs when the UV rays affect the epidermis of your skin and induce DNA mutations. When in the initial stages, your natural immune system may control growth, but if your case becomes severe, and growth kicks off, then the affected cells may develop into a mass, which ultimately leads to tumors.

Is skin cancer linked to genetics?

Not directly. The primary reason of developing skin cancer is exposure to UV rays. However, research has shown that skin cancer is more common among individuals with poor pigmentation. So, while it isn’t directly linked to your genes, they do play a part.

What are the most common symptoms?

The symptoms associated with basal cell carcinoma aren’t too many, but squamous cell carcinoma can be painful. In both cases, sores may appear on your skin, and fail to heal, often oozing and bleeding. Eventually, these sores grow into a bump with raised edges.

The most common symptoms of skin cancer are given below. If you notice any of these, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist in Southlake, TX right away.

Basal cell carcinoma

  • Appearance of a pinkish red bump
  • Lesion growths
  • Reddish patches on the skin that appear to be raised and are itchy; these are usually not painful suggests a dermatologist in Southlake, TX.
  • Yellowish white waxy area, resembling a scar

Squamous cell carcinomas

  • Scaly red patches that are kind of persistent and often bleed
  • Open sores that stay on your skin for weeks on red
  • Wart like growth

A dermatologist in Southlake, TX advises that you should also be careful and seek professional advice if scaly lesions develop on your face or scalp.  These are a result of UV skin damage, and if you don’t get seek proper treatment from a dermatologist in Southlake, TX, in then there is a 10% chance of them turning into a skin cancer case.

How will a dermatologist in Southlake, TX treat skin cancer?

Skin cancer is treated through a number of means. Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will first assess your case, and accordingly, come up with a personal treatment plan based on the tumor location and size, your cancer characteristics and your general health.

Medications

If you’re suffering basal cell carcinoma, then your dermatologist in Southlake, TX may recommend gels and creams. These stimulate your immune system so that its produces interferon and fluorouracil (5-FU) to attack cancerous cells. Tropical treatments generally don’t have side effects, but you may rarely suffer from inflammation or irritation.

Surgical excision

Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will numb the area around your tumor and remove the affected tissue. Depending on your tumor size, sutures or skin grafts may be required to cover up the treated area.

Electrodessication and curettage (EDC)

In this case, your dermatologist in Southlake, TX will scrap the tumor area using a sharp instrument and then cauterize the edges with an electric needle.

What are the biggest risk factors of skin cancer?

Your dermatologist in Southlake, TX can assess your case individually and accordingly evaluate if you are likely to develop skin cancer or not. The most common factors are given as below.

UV rays and X-Rays

An expert dermatologist in Southlake, TX regards exposure to UV rays to be the number one cause of cancer, regardless of whether these rays originate from tanning beds or the sun itself. If your skin color is fair or if you have light colored or red hair, your chances of being affected by UV rays increase. The same is the case if you live in elevated areas or in a place that is too close to the equator.

You’re also a more likely victim if you regularly come in contact with ionizing radiation or x-rays. These contain chemicals such as arsenic which can trigger unhealthy skin cells growth.

Suppressed immune system

If you have ever suffered from HIV/AIDS or have taken specific medicines which have suppressed your immune system – a condition known as immunosuppression – then your chances of developing skin cancer are greater.

Age

As you grow older, your chances of suffering from skin cancer increase.

Previous History

If you already have suffered from skin cancer in the past, there is a 20% greater chance of you developing another skin cancer within the next two or three years. Discuss your case with a dermatologist in Southlake, TX, and they’ll suggest certain measures which you can take to minimize the risks.

Make an appointment with Compassion Dermatology for all your skin care needs.

 

Dermatologist in Southlake, TX Advice to Stay Protected This Summer from Developing Skin Cancer

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Consulting a skilled dermatologist in Southlake, TX for any skin related issue is crucial. As per the American Cancer Society, the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States is skin cancer. An expected 5.4 million instances of non-melanoma skin cancer were investigated, and in 2012 alone 3.3 million individuals were found to have skin cancer. Research additionally shows that the vast majority of these cases can be avoided by maintaining a limited and safe exposure to sun. A proficient dermatologist in Southlake, TX is capable of diagnosing and curing skin cancer.

With summer almost dawned upon us, it’s essential that we as a whole find out about identifying and avoiding skin disease like skin cancer so we can keep ourselves and our friends and family protected.

How to Identify Early Signs of Skin Cancer

The most noticeable and apparent indication of skin cancer is a weird mole or mark on your skin. Noticing any strange and suspicious thing on the skin should be looked at by a skilled dermatologist right away. It is best to have skin cancer quickly diagnosed and treated by dermatologist in Southlake, TX to avoid any complications.

The best way to get diagnosed early is if you keep looking for any out of the ordinary marks on your skin. It is most common to have marks on areas which are most exposed to sun like the face or arms but it is advised by dermatologist in Southlake, TX to check all over the body for any sign or indication of skin cancer.

It is recommended to check your skin for abnormalities every month. Thorough checking should be done, if you want to check in areas that are hard to see like the scalp or your back you can ask a family member or a friend to help you out.

Some common way to identify a cancerous mark is by looking at the following symptoms:

  • Safe and harmless marks are usually symmetrical, if you observe a mark that is not symmetrical, meaning one half will not be like the other half.
  • Marks that do not have clear boundaries may be a sign of skin cancer
  • Safe marks are single colored if you notice a mark that is not of single color you need to be warned.
  • If you have spots that are abnormally large, larger than 5mm should be an indication of skin cancer.
  • If the spot is constantly changing this might be an indication that you need to get it checked it by a dermatologist in Southlake, TX.

If you are noticing a scar, scaly spot or sore that does not heal or keeps coming back you should also contact a skilled dermatologist in Southlake, TX to check if it is skin cancer.

If you have observed the above mentioned symptoms you do need to panic and it does not confirm that there is skin cancer unless confirmed by a professional dermatologist in Southlake, TX after running the necessary tests. And due to the advancement in medicine, if skin cancer is timely diagnosed it can be effectively treated.

Ways Skin Cancer Can Be Treated

The dermatologist in Southlake, TX is capable of treating cancer through several different ways, the treatment can include surgery but there are treatments available which do not require surgery.

The surgery required to safely remove skin cancer can usually be done at the dermatologist’s office with local anesthesia.

The skilled dermatologists in Southlake, TX will decide the course of treatment after diagnosing the cancer. Different surgery techniques, topical creams, laser treatment, radiation therapy, therapy involving liquid nitrogen or using other specialized tools to remove cancerous cells are all possible treatments the dermatologists in Southlake, TX have. The dermatologist will decide on the choice of treatment considering several factors including: the location, size and the stage of the cancer; the age, health and other medical conditions of the patient. The dermatologists in Southlake, TX will try to choose the treatment that offers the fastest recovery minimum scars and the safest technique to permanently treat the skin cancer.

Ways to Avoid Skin Cancer

Everyone is aware that staying away from the sun’s harsh UV rays is the best possible way to stay safe from developing skin cancer, yet what else would you be able to do to shield yourselves and your friends and family from getting skin tumor?

To minimize your chances of developing skin cancer, you need to limit your contact to UV beams. Essentially found in sunlight as part of the spectrum of rays coming from the sun, UV rays can seriously and directly damage the DNA of the cells in your skin. The result can be sunburn and a risk of developing skin cancer.

According to researchers UV rays are the strongest in the morning and peak at noon, the time when UV rays are the strongest is between 10 am to 4 pm especially during summer and spring seasons. The region around the equator experiences the most UV rays. People who have family members diagnosed with skin cancer should be extra cautious.

Applying a proper sunscreen lotion recommended by the dermatologists in Southlake, TX and staying away from unnecessary sun is the best way to stay protected. Tanning beds are also to be avoided as they can subject you to a lot of unnecessary UV rays that can be harmful. Consuming food rich in vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids along with protecting yourself from UV rays can result in better chances of avoiding skin cancer.

The Bottom Line

It is important to make it a habit of visiting a dermatologist in Southlake, TX whenever you see symptoms of skin cancer and any other skin related issues. Compassion Dermatology is a skin care dermatology center that specializes in improving your skin’s health. So if you are looking to get a skin disease treated or simply aiming to improve the health and appeal of your skin than you should contact them right away.

The Most Effective Treatments for Skin Cancer You Should Know About | Dermatologist in Southlake, TX

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Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that Americans are diagnosed with; according to the statistics 5.5 million cases were registered in 2012 alone.

More people are diagnosed with skin cancer than any other type and Actinic keratosis is the most common of them all, nearly 58 million Americans are affected by the disease. A report suggests that 1 in every 5 Americans will develop some form of skin cancer by the age of 70.

If the disease is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, the survival chances of the patients are high. Due to the advancement of medical science and technology there are several treatments available for treating the disease and are recommended by the dermatologist in Southlake, TX.

Different treatment methods for skin cancer

There are different methods for treating the skin cancer, depending on the type and stage of the disease. Following are the treatments recommended by the dermatologists in Southlake, TX:

1.  Mohs surgery

 

It is a surgical technique that is used to treat skin cancer; a micrographic surgery is carried out in which skin layers containing cancer tissues are removed progressively and are examined until only the cancer-free tissues are left.

The goal of this treatment is to remove the cancerous tissues as much as possible without damaging the surrounding healthy tissues.

When to choose?


As per the dermatologists in Southlake, TX, this procedure should be used in the following conditions:

  • This method is used for the cancer that has a high chance of reoccurring.
  • In a situation where you want to preserve more healthy tissue around the infected area, this method is effective.
  • This treatment can be useful if a large area is affected and has no defined borders.

Results

The best part of this treatment is that you see the results right after the surgery has been completed. The procedure does not stop until all the cancerous cells have been removed.

2.   Curettage and Electrodesiccation

 

Curettage and electrodesiccation (C&E) is a procedure used to treat low-risk tumors and precancerous lesions. In this procedure an electric needle is injected in the affected area which scrapes away and destroys the remaining cancerous cells. It is an inexpensive treatment that can be performed in a clinic.

When to choose?

As per the dermatologists in Southlake, TX, this procedure should be used in the following conditions:

  • It can be used to treat low risk basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
  • It can be a good option for treating precancer, actinic keratosis.
  • This method is the most effective for cancer that’s still in its early stages.

Results

Results are excellent when done by an expert dermatologist in Southlake, TX; it cures up to 96% of low-risk tumors.

3.  Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

 

The procedure of this method requires the patient to use a drug called a photosensitizer or photosensitizing agent. The drug when exposed to a certain wavelength of light kills all nearby cancer cells.

When to choose?

As per the dermatologists in Southlake, TX, this procedure should be used in the following conditions:

  • This method is useful when the skin cancer has developed just above the bone, such as in Bowen’s disease.

Results

Usually a single treatment is enough, but 2 or 3 treatments may be prescribed if the tumor is thick. While it shows results,  it has some limitations.

4.  Excisional skin surgery

 

In this surgery the cancer tissues are removed along with some of the healthy tissues as well. If the treated and now removed area is extensive, it is compensated by a skin graft. This method is different from mohs surgery; in mohs surgery cancerous skin layers are removed one by one.

When to choose

As per the dermatologists in Southlake, TX, this procedure should be used in the following conditions:

  • To treat the patients suffering from basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
  • It is also opted if the cancer-ridden area is quite large.

Results

  • This treatment has a cure percentage of about 95% when treating basal cell carcinoma, when used for treating squamous cell carcinoma, the results were equally impressive.

5.  Imiquimod treatment

 

It is a topical treatment to treat skin cancer that is recommended by experienced dermatologists in Southlake,TX.  It is a cream that uses your body’s natural defense system to fight cancer cells. It works by releasing a cytokine called interferon.

This is a protein that the body makes naturally during an immune response; these interferons fight cancer cells and inhibit their growth.

When to choose

As per the dermatologists in Southlake, TX, this procedure should be used in the following conditions:

  • This method is approved to treat basal cell skin cancers (BCCs) that measure up to 2cm across.
  • This method is prescribed for the people who are suffering from actinic karatosis.

Results

It is an effective treatment which gives good results if used during the early stages. However, opt for a different treatment if the cancer is in its more developed stages.

 

6.  Methyl aminolevulinate treatment

 

Methyl aminolevulinate is a topical photosensitizing agent that is use in PDT to treat skin cancer. When the cream is applied on the affected area, it is absorbed by the cancer cells and the drug coverts into photoactive porphyrins on exposure to light; a molecular reaction occurs that causes the destruction of the cancerous cell.

When to choose

As per the dermatologists in Southlake, TX, this procedure should be used in the following conditions:

  • This method can potentially treat actinic keratoses on the face and scalp.
  • Often prescribed to treat thin nodular basal cell carcinomas.

Result

It is an effective method for treating the disease during an early stage.

The bottom line

 

Cancer is a life-threatening disease, however, an early diagnosis can help increase the chances to defeat this fatal disease. Therefore it is necessary to get your skin scanned from time to time by a good dermatologist in Southlake, TX.

At Compassion Dermatology  all treatments related to skin our provided in a safe, hygienic environment. The professional doctors here thoroughly evaluate the skin’s condition and then recommend you the skin treatment you should opt for.