More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined. Approximately 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, skin cancer is highly treatable when caught early.
The best defense against skin cancer is prevention. Regular use of sunscreens and protective clothing have been shown to effectively reduce skin cancer risk. Having a skin care professional perform a thorough and comprehensive skin examination at regular intervals is critical in identifying precancerous and cancerous lesions of the skin. Many times skin cancers are not obvious or bothersome and can grow without distinctive symptoms. Skin cancer screenings help to identify dangerous lesions and other risk factors associated with skin cancer.
Skin cancer screenings include visual and physical evaluation of moles, skin lesions, and areas of the skin for atypia. If suspicious lesions are identified, they may be biopsied by your provider. If the lesions are cancerous, a number of treatments are available including traditional surgery, scraping and burning, cryosurgery, radiation, topical medications, and advanced Mohs micrographic surgery. Our providers at Ada Dermatology will go over your treatment options in detail and recommend the treatment best for your case.