Skin Cancer/Pre Skin Cancer
Medical Dermatology
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What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer and pre-cancers are amongst the most serious of all skin conditions. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. These pre-cancers and cancers typically look like pink or red (or even brown) bumps or rough (like sandpaper) spots.
Additionally, pre-cancerous actinic keratosis (AK) and atypical/dysplastic nevi (abnormal moles) are common and should be treated. Pre-cancers are not yet deep or severe enough to be a cancer, so they may look or feel subtle, and may even appear to be healed up sometimes, but they always come back.
In general, any pink or red spot that doesn’t heal in a month, bleeds, or grows quickly should be evaluated for skin cancer. New or changing moles or spots should be diagnosed and treated by a well trained board-certified dermatologist like Dr. Steele Johnson-Johnson. Schedule an appointment online or give us a call at (770) 464-6000.
What causes skin cancer?
Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are very much linked to ultraviolet radiation (from the sun or tanning beds) and skin type/color. They almost always occur in areas of sun damage and in people who have less defense from UV radiation from the sun. If you burn easily in the sun, then consequently you are at higher risk for these types of skin cancer. Those with a lifetime of sun exposure, especially those that work (or play) outdoors in the sun, also have a markedly increased risk of skin cancer.
Some types of squamous cell cancer can occur in scars or areas of radiation and are unrelated to the sun. In addition, a type of squamous cell cancer can occur in the genital area in association with human papillomavirus (HPV). So, it’s important to be on the lookout for any abnormal bumps or lesions even if they occur in areas not exposed to the sun.
If you have multiple squamous cell and/or basal cell cancers starting from a young age, you likely have some genetic predisposition. Additionally, anyone who is immunosuppressed is at higher risk because your immune system isn’t as well equipped to prevent skin cancers.
Where do you get skin cancer?
Given the correlation between sun exposure and skin cancer, you usually get SCC and BCC on parts of the body that get the most sun. For men and women, this tends to be on the face, arms, and hands. Additionally for women, the chest and legs are higher-risk areas. For men, we also pay close attention to the scalp and ears because they tend to be more exposed.