Protect your skin! Skin cancers are caused by excessive growth of your skin cells, and are usually a result of prolonged UV exposure. Individuals who regularly use tanning beds or spend long hours in the sun are at risk for developing skin cancer. It’s important to be aware of any abnormal spots appearing on your body. If you are fair-skinned or have a family history of skin cancer, you are at greater risk of developing the disease. Take precautions and protect your skin.
Types of Skin Cancer
There are three major types of skin cancers: basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and melanomas.
- Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are commonly found on the face, ears, arms and other sun-exposed parts of the body. They are very common and considered the most mild form of skin cancer. They grow very slowly and rarely spread to other parts of the body. BCCs are often small, pink or tan colored bumps on the skin that have a waxy or pearly appearance. They can also appear as flat, brown lesions. There are a variety of treatment options including excision, electrodesiccation and curettage (ED&C) and cryosurgery.
- Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) usually occur on sun-exposed parts of the body such as the face and arms. SCCs occur in the deeper layers of the skin and grow moderately slowly. They can spread to other parts of the body over time. SCCs are reddish or pinkish growths that occur on the skin and often have a scaly or irritated appearance. Treatment for SCC usually involves excision.
- Melanomas occurs when the skin’s melanocytes (the pigment-producing cells in the skin) become cancerous. Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that can spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. They are much less common than BCCs and SCCs, but can pose a major health issue if left untreated. Most melanomas are brown or black in color like a mole. They have asymmetry, irregular borders and coloring, large diameters, and/or have recently changed in shape or size. Melanomas must be removed from the body because of their aggressive nature.
What is Melasma
Melasma is a common, benign condition where portions of your skin darken. This skin darkening occurs when your melanocytes (your pigment-producing cells) make too much melanin and cause dark patches to form. While this condition does not pose a health risk, it can cause stress and frustration among those who suffer from it.
While many things can cause melasma, the two most common culprits are excessive sun exposure and hormonal medications. Wearing sunscreen or switching your birth control are viable options for preventing melasma in the future; however, it will not reduce the appearance of darkened spots that have already formed on the skin.
The first step to Melasma treatment is to determine the root cause. If symptoms do not improve after eliminating the initial cause, you may need more extensive treatment such as prescribed topical medication. Microneedling can be used to treat Melasma. It’s a minor, non-invasive procedure that uses tiny needles to create micro-traumas in the skin. This procedure works to stimulate collagen production and has shown promising results for reducing the appearance of skin hyperpigmentation.
If you have or suspect that you have skin cancer or melasmas and are looking for treatment, call our office at 508-936-1657 to schedule an appointment.