Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer, occurring in the basal cells of the outermost layer of skin. Excessive sun and ultra-violet light exposure are thought to be the number one risks for developing basal cell carcinoma.
As such, it most commonly occurs on areas of the skin which are exposed to sunlight, especially the:
However, basal cell cancer can be found on any area of the body.
What does basal cell carcinoma look like?
It typically starts with a small spot and continues growing without treatment. Some patients describe these lesions as sores that never heal, or a pimple that appears and continues to grow without resolving. These cancers steadily increase in size, but they do not spread to distant regions of the body or internal tissue.
If you have a suspected basal cell carcinoma, a skin biopsy and microscopic examination is necessary to determine whether a growth is cancerous.
Treatment for basal cell carcinoma
There are multiple ways to treat basal cell cancer, including:
- Topical chemotherapy
- Immune modulating creams
- Local destruction of the cancer
- Surgery, such as Mohs micrographic surgery
The type of treatment selected is individualized to the patient and their cancer. Your dermatologist can help select the best treatment for you. If you become concerned about a skin growths appear, contact your dermatologist immediately.
Preventing basal cell carcinoma
As mentioned above, skin cancers are influenced by the total sun exposure an individual gets over their lifetime. While some of the damage may already have been done, you can prevent further skin injury by using sunscreens. You should use a broad spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or more.
You can still enjoy the sunshine and outdoor activities, just remember to put your sunscreen on exposed areas (e.g. face, arms, hands and legs) 15 minutes before going out in the sun, and wear sun protective clothing.
Contact Sanova Dermatology to schedule a full-body skin check or basal cell carcinoma consultation with one of our board-certified dermatologists.
THE TREATMENTS BELOW CAN HELP WITH BASAL CELL CARCINOMA:
view all