What is Skin Cancer and What Causes It?
Skin cancer is the cancerous growth of abnormal skin cells. The most common cause of skin cancer is excessive sun exposure, which can damage skin cells. Other causes include genetic predisposition and conditions or medications that suppress the immune system.
Different Types of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer develops in various types and at varying levels of severity. The three most common types of skin cancer are:
- Squamous cell carcinoma, which develops from the upper layers of the skin, where squamous cells are located
- Basal cell carcinoma, which develops from the deeper layers of skin, where basal cells are located
- Melanoma, which develops from skin pigment cells called melanocytes. It is the most aggressive type of skin cancer and can be deadly
Risk Factors for Skin Cancer
Risk factors for developing skin cancer include having fair skin and freckles. Your risk also increases if you tend to sunburn easily or if you have a family history of skin cancer.
Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer
Abnormal moles are moles that are large, usually over 6 millimeters, irregular, and have poorly defined borders. A mole that is itchy, bleeding, or oozing should also be examined. New, growing or bleeding skin lesions should always be examined by a dermatologist as should any skin lesion that is changing.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin Cancer
Regular skin exams with a dermatologist may detect skin cancer early, before it has a chance to spread. Diagnosis is typically done with a biopsy, which involves taking a small tissue sample and checking for abnormal cells.
Depending on the type and stage of skin cancer, your dermatologist may recommend curettage and desiccation, scraping and applying electric current to kill cancerous cells, surgical excision or Mohs micrographic surgery.
Mohs micrographic surgery involves removing a thin layer of tissue and examining it under a microscope. If cancerous cells are found, the next layer is removed. The process continues until normal cells are found.
Prevention of Skin Cancer
To prevent skin cancer, it’s important to wear sunscreen with at least SPF 30 when you are outside, or at least SPF 50 if you are at high risk of developing skin cancer.
Want To Know More About Skin Cancer and Skin Cancer Treatment?
To learn more about skin cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, call Dr. Cary Ann Jenkins at Morris Dermatology and Joliet Dermatology in Morris and Joliet, IL. You can reach her in the Joliet, IL, office by calling (815) 666-1742, or in the Morris, IL, office by calling (815) 941-5160, so call today.
