ACTINIC KERATOSIS

What is Actinic Keratosis? Actinic keratosis is a pre-cancer skin lesion that look like scaly or crusty growths most often appearing on sun-exposed areas such as a bald scalp, face, ears, lips, back of the hands and forearms, shoulders, neck or any other areas.

What are characteristics of Actinic Keratoses? Actinic keratosis is a pre-cancer skin lesion that look like scaly or crusty growths most often appearing on sun-exposed areas such as a bald scalp, face, ears, lips, back of the hands and forearms, shoulders, neck or any other areas.

Where does it mean if I have Actinic Keratoses? Actinic keratoses are a sign of years and years of chronic sun damage to your skin and could signal current and/or future skin cancer. Fortunately, actinic keratoses are easily treatable.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

What are Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancers? Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer and basal cell carcinoma (or basal cell skin cancer) is the most common form of skin cancer, with over 1 million new diagnoses in the US each year. 

Where do Basal Cell Carcinomas Appear? As with most skin cancers, areas of the body with heavy sun-exposure are most at risk: the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders and back. Basal cell carcinomas (and other types of skin cancers) can also appear on skin with little sun-exposure, for example if there is contact with arsenic,  radiation, open sores/wounds, burns, and skin inflammation that do not heal.

Who gets Basal Cell Carcinomas? Anyone with an extensive history of sun exposure (e.g., outdoor workers, people who spend their leisure time outdoors) is at risk of getting basal cell carcinoma. People who are at highest risk are those who are most likely to have had sunburns or deeply suntanned skin and usually have lighter skin, blond or red hair, and lighter colored eyes. Because the damage occurs over years, basal cell carcinomas are more common with age, however, the average age of patients at onset has steadily decreased, with more and more people in their twenties and thirties being treated.

How is Basal Cell Carcinoma treated? If caught early, basal cell carcinomas are usually easily treated when they are small. However, the larger the tumor grows the more intense the treatment needed. Unlike most types of cancer, basal cell carcinoma has a low risk of spreading or metastasizing to other organs. However, basal cell carcinomas can be quite aggressive and grow and damage surrounding skin and tissue, causing considerable disfigurement.

Early small skin cancers can be removed quickly and with minimal long-term skin damage or scarring and usually have cosmetically satisfactory results. Larger tumors may require more intense surgical care such as a skin graft or flap to close larger wounds in order to promote healing and achieve the best cosmetic outcomes.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

General Information about Squamous Cell Carcinoma? Squamous cell carcinomas are the second most common skin cancer, with over 250,000 new cases diagnosed annually in the US. This type of skin cancer arises in cells in the top layer of the skin (epidermis). Squamous cell carcinomas may affect a wide array of areas of the body including the genitals and mucous membranes, but are most common in sun-exposed areas (e.g., the rim of the ear, lower lip, face, bald scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs). These sun-exposed areas may reveal signs of sun damage such as wrinkling, pigmentary changes and loss of elasticity.

Who gets Squamous Cell Carcinoma? People with fair skin, light hair, and light-colored (e.g., blue, green or gray) eyes are at an increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma. However, anyone can be at increased risk particularly individuals whose work require long hours outdoors or who spend a majority of their leisure time under the sun. In African Americans, the majority of skin cancers are squamous cell carcinomas and usually arise at sites of preexisting inflammatory skin conditions or burns. Because sun-exposure is such a critical factor in developing skin cancer, it is still essential for everyone to practice sun protection.

What causes Squamous Cell Carcinoma? Chronic exposure to sun and ultraviolet radiation causes most cases of squamous cell carcinoma. This includes the regular use of tanning beds, which can increase the risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by 2.5 times compared to individuals who don't use tanning beds. Another important cause is chronic, poorly healed skin injuries, including burns, scars, ulcers, long-standing sores, and body areas previously exposed to X-rays or certain chemicals.Conditions that affect the immune system may also increase the risk of developing skin cancer. These conditions include HIV and other immune deficiency diseases, chemotherapy, drugs used in organ transplantation to prevent rejection of the donor organ, all of which decrease the immune system’s ability to target and remove abnormal cells, thus increasing the risk of squamous cell carcinoma and other skin cancers.

How is Squamous Cell Carcinoma treated? Timely treatment of squamous cell carcinoma is important because larger tumors usually require more extensive treatment such as a skin graft or flap to repair the wound in order to achieve the best cosmetic result and facilitate healing.

Conversely, smaller skin cancers are more easily removed and the scar is usually more cosmetically acceptable. 

Malignant Melanoma

General Information about Malignant Melanoma? Melanoma is the most lethal form of skin cancer and comes from the skin cells that produce pigment called melanocytes. Fortunately, when diagnosed in the early stages, treatment can be very effective.

What is the prognosis for Melanoma? For patients with melanoma, how well they do (i.e., prognosis) and the amount of treatment they need depends on the stage of the cancer when it is diagnosed. Melanoma staging is based on features of the cancer, primarily its thickness and whether or not the melanoma has spread (i.e., metastasized) to other body areas.