Skin Cancer & Pre-Cancers
Trust the board-certified dermatologists at Alamance Skin Center for high-quality monitoring, diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. We assist you in monitoring your skin health by conducting skin exams, identifying suspicious moles and performing biopsies on unusual growths to detect skin cancer early. When needed, we also use advanced treatments to ensure precise removal of cancerous skin cells.
Skin cancer is best treated when it's caught early, before the cancer fully develops. If you suspect you have skin cancer or pre-cancerous growths, don’t hesitate to contact our team.
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers. It is estimated that more than one million Americans develop skin cancer every year.
Over exposure to sunlight (including tanning) is the main cause of skin cancer, especially when it results in sunburn and blistering. Other less important factors include:
- Repeated medical and industrial x-ray exposure.
- Scarring from diseases or burns.
- Occupational exposure to such compounds as coal tar and arsenic.
- Family history.
Actinic Keratosis: A Skin Pre-Cancer
An actinic keratosis (or AK) is a pre-cancer that generally arises in areas of skin that have been damaged from long term sun exposure. These lesions are commonly seen in fair skinned individuals, especially on head, neck, arms, and backs of hands. AKs generally appear as pink, scaly spots that are persistent. AKs are easily treated by a dermatologist. If untreated, they could turn into a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.
A Common Type of Skin Cancer: Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma (or BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. It generally arises in sun-exposed areas of skin. BCC is the least aggressive type of skin cancer for two reasons. It is very slow growing and it typically does not spread beyond the skin (does not metastasize). A BCC can appear as a pearly, pink bump that slowly enlarges or bleeds. Like any other skin cancer, a BCC does not heal on its own. It can be disfiguring if not treated. It is usually treated by an outpatient surgical procedure by your dermatologist.
Learn More About Skin Cancer
Skin Cancer Prevention
Prevention means guarding the skin against the known causes of skin cancer. Since the sun’s ultraviolet rays are the main culprit, the most effective preventive method is sun avoidance.
Additional measures you can take include:
- Seeking shade between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. when the ultraviolet rays are the most intense, especially when your shadow is shorter than you are tall.
- Wearing light colored, tightly-woven, protective clothing, and wide-brimmed hats (3-inch brim).
- Applying sunscreens with a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15.
Using Sunscreen
With a SPF 15 sunscreen applied properly, a fair-skin person who sunburns in 20 minutes can tolerate 15 times 20 minutes (300 minutes) without burning. However, the use of sunscreens should not be an excuse to spend extra time in the sun because other sunrays still go through the sunscreen, such as UVA or infrared, which can age the skin and damage the skin’s immune system.
Begin early use of sun protection in childhood because it is estimated that 80 percent of lifetime sun exposure occurs before age 18. Children under 6 months of age should not have prolonged sun exposure, but if this occurs, then a sunscreen should be used.
Tanning & Skin Cancer
Tanning, for any reason, is not a healthy practice. Tanning is a result of damage that has occurred in the skin. Sunlight causes mutations in the DNA of skin cells. The body tries to repair these mutations and in the process produces more pigment in the skin.
Unfortunately, a tan only offers the equivalent of an SPF 8, which is not sufficient to protect the skin. DNA damage can still occur even in the absence of sunburn. This damage can eventually lead to wrinkling and permanent freckling of the skin and possible formation of skin cancer.
