Types of Skin Cancer and Signs to Watch For

One in five people can develop skin cancer during their life. It is the most prevalent type of cancer. Skin cancer is the abnormal development of skin cells that receive direct sunlight. Doctors can cure nearly all forms of cancer following early diagnosis and treatment. Treatments for skin cancer include cryotherapy, excision, Mohs surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

It would be best to visit a dermatologist at least once a year for a professional examination of the health of your skin. You ought to check for suspicious changes in your skin. They can be early signs of cancer.

Types of Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can take the form of basal cell carcinoma, melanoma, or squamous cell carcinoma.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma will appear in sun-exposed body parts like your face or neck.

Symptoms

Translucent or pearly bumps that are pink or red with blue or black areas.
A flat lesion that is brown and scar-like or flesh-colored.
Bleeding or scabbing sore that heals and recurs.
Red raised patches that can be itchy.
Flat pale-yellow areas that are firm like scars.
Pink growths on the skin with elevated edges and a low center with abnormal blood vessels that spread outwards, looking like spokes on a wheel.
Open sores with crusted or oozing areas that fail to heal or heal and recur.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma occurs most often in parts of your body exposed to the sun. These are your face, hands, and ears. Darker-skinned people are more predisposed to getting squamous cell carcinoma in places the sunlight does not reach.

The symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma include a firm red bulge and a flat laceration with a crusted, scaly surface. Open sores with crusted or oozing areas that fail to heal or recur are signs. Elevated lumps or growths with a low center and growths that look like warts are also symptoms of squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma

Melanoma develops in any area of the body on normal-looking skin. Also, it can grow on an existing mole that has become cancerous. Melanoma mainly presents in affected men on their faces or trunk. Melanoma in women will mainly present on the lower legs. Melanoma does not depend on exposure to the sun to develop.

It can affect people of all skin tones. In dark-skinned people, it is present on the soles or palms, under toenails or fingernails.

Symptoms of Melanoma

A mole that is bleeding or changing in size, color, or feel.
A painful lesion that burns or itches.
A large brown spot with darker spots.
A small irregular-shaped lesion with parts that appear white, blue-black, blue, red, or pink.
Dark wounds on your toes, fingertips, soles, palms, or in the mouth, nose, vagina, or anus.

For more on the common types of skin cancer and signs to watch out for, call Gupta Plastic Surgery at (858) 408-6100 to reach our office in San Diego or Encinitas, California.