Providing shade from the biggest threats to your healthy, beautiful skin: FAQs about specialty skin cancer care

It’s estimated that eight out of every ten skin cancers are BCCs or basal cell carcinomas. BCCs affect the lowest part of the epidermis, known as the “basal cell layer.” These cells constantly divide and slough off of the skin’s surface.

Squamous cell carcinomas, which make up about two out of every ten skin cancer cases, develop in the flat cells on the outermost layer of the epidermis. Melanoma may only make up 1% of all skin cancer cases; however, it is responsible for a large portion of skin cancer deaths. It arises in the melanocytes, which produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.

BCCs grow slowly on the head, neck, and other sun-exposed areas. This type of cancer rarely spreads to other parts of the body. But, if you don’t treat it, BCCs can affect nearby areas and the hard and soft tissues under the skin. Also, if not precisely removed, these cancers tend to recur at the same site.

SCCs are associated with sun-exposed areas such as the face, ears, neck, and hands. They can arise from scars or sores and may develop from Actinic Keratoses, those scaly flesh-/pink-colored sores, or pre-cancerous growths. SCCs are also more likely than BCCs to grow deeply and spread.

Melanomas are much more likely to grow and spread than BCCs or SCCs. They feature distinctive characteristics, such as undefined borders, multiple colors, bleeding, itching, and crusting. Sometimes, melanoma starts from harmless moles. In fact, having lots of irregular or big moles is a risk factor for melanoma.

Treatment depends on factors such as the type and stage of the cancer. Most of the time, a chance to “cut” is a “chance to cure.” Some cancers may be removed with a simple procedure of shaving off or surgically excising part or all of the tumor. Dr. Johnson takes a special interest and has developed significant expertise in the surgical removal of both malignant/cancerous and benign/non-cancerous growths.