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Grand Strand Dermatology, LLC

"Love The Skin You're In"

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9400 Frontage Road (Hwy 17 Bypass)

Murrell Inlet, SC 29576

(843) 215-1100

933 Medical Circle

Myrtle Beach, SC 29572

(843) 215-1100

843-215-1211

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Skin Cancer

  • Created in Pamphlets

Skin cancer is the most common cancer. Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

When detected early, skin cancer is highly treatable. The most common warning signs of skin cancer include changes in size, shape, or color of a mole or other skin lesion or the appearance of a new growth on the skin.

SKIN CANCER AFFECTS EVERYONE

Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of skin color. Some people have a higher risk of developing skin cancer than others. Age is a key risk factor, but there are many other factors.

People with a higher risk for skin cancer have:

  • Light colored skin
  • Skin that burns or freckles rather than tans
  • Blond or red hair
  • Blue or green eyes
  • More than 50 moles
  • Irregularly-shaped or darker moles (nevi) called “atypical” or “dysplastic”

Your medical history can also increase your risk of getting skin cancer. You have a much greater risk of developing skin cancer if you have:

  • History of sunburns, especially blistering sunburns
  • Used (or use) indoor tanning devices
  • Received an organ transplant
  • Had skin cancer (or a blood relative has/had skin cancer)
  • A weakened immune system
  • Been exposed to cancer-causing compounds such as arsenic or coal
  • An area of skin that has been badly burned, either in an accident or by the sun

TYPES OF SKIN CANCER

Skin cancer can happen anywhere on the skin or even in the eye, mouth, or genitalia. Skin cancers are more common on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun. The most common types of skin cancer are:

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

BCC is the most common type of skin cancer. BCC appears on the skin in many shapes and sizes. You may see a dome- shaped growth with visible blood vessels; a shiny, pinkish patch; or a sore that heals and then returns. BCC usually develops on skin that receives lots of sun, such as the scalp, face, nose, neck, and hands. BCC rarely spreads to other areas of the body, but it can grow deep into tissue and bone.

Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

SCC is the second most common type of skin cancer. SCC appears on the skin in many shapes. You may see a crusted or

rough bump; a red, rough flat patch;

a dome-shaped bump that grows and bleeds; or a sore that does not heal, or heals and returns. SCC commonly develops on skin that is exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, lips, back of the hands, arms, and legs.

SCC can also develop on areas of the body that are not exposed to the sun, such as inside the mouth or on the genitals. Smoking or chewing tobacco may increase the risk of getting SCC in the mouth or throat. Left untreated, SCC can spread to other parts of the body, making treatment difficult.

Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma

Melanoma

Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. It may develop on normal skin or in an existing mole. A change in the shape, color, or size of a mole can be a sign of melanoma. Other changes to watch for include a mole that becomes painful or begins to bleed or itch.

Some melanomas develop on normal skin. A new growth, particularly one that does not match your other moles, could be melanoma.

Melanoma can also develop under fingernails or toenails. This will look like a brown or black streak underneath the nail.

Although melanoma is more common in those with light colored skin, people with skin of color also get melanoma. In skin of color, melanoma usually appears on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, under a nail, in the mouth, or on the genitals.

ABCDEs of Melanoma

When detected early, melanoma is highly treatable. Performing skin self-exams can help you find skin changes that

could be an early melanoma. When looking at your skin for signs of melanoma, follow the ABCDEs:


A stands for ASYMMETRY; one-half does not look like the other half.

BORDER
B stands for BORDER; irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border.

COLOR
C stands for COLOR; varied from one area to another; shades of tan and brown, black; sometimes white, red, or blue.

DIAMETER
D stands for DIAMETER; melanomas are most often greater than 6 millimeters (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.

EVOLVING
E stands for EVOLVING; a mole or skin growth that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape, or color.

Make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist as soon as possible if you notice a spot or mole on your

skin that has any of these characteristics.

Actinic Keratoses (AKs)

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are common skin growths. AKs are considered precancerous. Left untreated, an AK may turn into SCC.

Most AKs are dry, scaly, rough-textured spots on the skin. AKs form on skin that receives lots of sun, such as on the head, including the ears, lips and scalp; arms; and hands. Women frequently get AKs on their legs. AKs can form, disappear, and then return.

Actinic keratosis
Actinic keratosis

THE IMPORTANCE OF SKIN EXAMINATIONS

You can perform a skin self-exam, which involves checking your skin for changes.

You can also receive a skin exam from your dermatologist. How often you should see your dermatologist for a skin exam varies from patient to patient. Your dermatologist will tell you how often you should have a skin exam.

HOW TO EXAMINE YOUR SKIN

A skin self-exam can help you find skin cancer early when it is most treatable. If you notice anything that is changing,

itching or bleeding, immediately make an appointment to see your dermatologist.

How to examine your skin
How to examine your skin

EARLY TREATMENT HAS A HIGH CURE RATE

When caught early, skin cancer is highly treatable. Even melanoma, which can be deadly, has a cure rate of almost 100% when treated early.

Proper treatment begins with the right diagnosis. To diagnose skin cancer, a dermatologist performs a skin biopsy.

This is the best way to diagnose skin cancer. Your dermatologist can perform a biopsy during an office visit.

To perform a biopsy, your dermatologist will remove either the entire skin growth or part of it. The removed skin will be sent to a lab where it will be examined under a microscope.

If the diagnosis is skin cancer, your dermatologist will consider the type of skin cancer, the size and location of the skin cancer, and your health to determine the best treatment for you. When caught early and the entire growth is removed,

further treatment may not be needed. If further treatment is needed, your dermatologist will discuss your treatment options and make recommendations.

PREVENT. DETECT. LIVE.™

Studies show that people who get skin cancer have a greater risk of developing another skin cancer. The following can help you detect and prevent new skin cancers:

  • Keep all appointments with your dermatologist. When detected early skin cancer is highly
  • Perform skin self-exams. Examine your skin as often as your dermatologist Be sure to check your scalp, ears, genitals, and buttocks.
  • If you notice anything changing, itching or bleeding on your skin, immediately make an appointment to see your dermatologist. Tell the person who schedules the appointment why you want to see your dermatologist.
  • Protect your skin every day by:
    • Seeking shade. Shade helps protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. Shade is especially important between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun’s rays are strongest. Any time your shadow is shorter than you are, seek
    • Taking care around water, snow, and sand. These reflect and intensify the damaging rays of the
    • Wearing protective clothing. This means wearing a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses, when

Generously applying a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen that protects the skin from UVA and UVB rays and that has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher.

Studies have shown that wearing sunscreen every day can reduce the risk of developing melanoma by half. When you are outside, even on cloudy days, apply sunscreen to all skin that is not covered by clothing. Reapply approximately every two hours, or after swimming or sweating.

  • Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, you may wish to use a sunless self-tanning product, but you should continue to use sunscreen with

A board-certified dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the medical, surgical and cosmetic conditions of the skin, hair and nails. To learn more about skin cancer or to find a board-certified dermatologist in your area, log onto aad.org or call toll-free (888) 462-DERM (3376).

Visit SpotSkinCancer.org – to:

  • Download a body mole map for tracking changes on your skin
  • Find a free SPOTme® skin cancer screening in your area
  • Share your skin cancer story, if you or a loved one have been affected by skin
  • Download free educational materials to share with your family and friends, or in your

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Copyright © by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

Images used with permission of the American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides

American Academy of Dermatology

P.O. Box 1968, Des Plaines, Illinois 60017
AAD Public Information Center: 888.462.DERM (3376) AAD Member Resource Center: 866.503.SKIN (7546) Outside the United States: 847.240.1280

Web: aad.org

Email: [email protected]

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Skin Cancer Removal Procedures

Skin Cancer patients can expect a surgical plan to remove their skin cancer based on the location , size, and type of tumor. Most treatments to remove cancerous lesions can be conducted under local anesthesia.

 

The Skin Cancer is removed with a Surgical tool called a curette with a hoop or scoop on the end for scraping. An electric current is then applied to the area through a needle-like electrode designed to kill the remaining cancer cells and reduce bleeding.

After care instructions: The ED&C site must be kept clean if it is to heal rapidly. It is a small open wound which may or may not leave a scar. To clean the site, follow these instructions

First Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water

1. Remove Initial dressing in 24 hours.

2. Wash the area with soap and water twice a day. Apply a thin film of Aquaphor or Vaseline and cover with a fresh bandage until healing has occurred. This may take up to 2/4 week, depending on size of the wound and location.

3. Do not use Neosporin or other over the counter topical antibiotics as allergies to these medications are quite common and they can slow down healing.

4. Keep wound moist with Vaseline and band-aid, as stated in number 2. A scab or leaving it open to the environment will slow down healing.

It is normal for the site to become puffy, reddened, or irritated. However, if the site is warm to the touch, oozing, or severely reddened or very sore, you need to contact the office at (843)215-1100.

 

The skin cancer growth is removed with surgical excision by cutting or shaving it out of the skin with a scalpel. Local anesthesia is used to numb the affected area. Depending on the type of tumor, our surgeons my remove a certain amount of surrounding tissue. 

After Care Instructions: First Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water

1. You may apply an ice pack following surgery. Apply the ice pack on for 20 minutes, and then remove for 20 minutes, and repeat the process as needed. 

2. Remember, applying direct pressure to the surgery site stops bleeding.

3. You may take Tylenol for Pain if needed.

4. Leave the wound dressing on for 24 hours

5. While showering, remove your current dressing and clean your wound, and the remove for gently with warm water and soap to remove any dried blood and prevent scab formation.

6. Apply Vaseline ointment at least one time daily, and cover the entire wound with a band-aide or gauze dressing.

7. On your scheduled day of suture removal, cleanse the wound, and leave the area DRY(do not apply any ointment) and return to our office at your scheduled time to have the sutures removed

8. If your wound is in the beard area on your face or other area where you normally shave, please avoid shaving near the wound.

9. If the surgical site starts to bleed excessively and doesn't stop with applied pressure for 15 minutes, the dressing become saturated with blood. If there is excessive swelling or the site become inflamed and warm to the touch. Call the office at 843-215-1100

 

The surgeon removes the visible skin cancer and come surrounding tissue via and incision. The removed tissue is frozen, dyed, and evaluated under a microscope by a pathologist to see if the cancer has been removed entirely. If cancerous cells are still present, the process of excision and evaluation is repeated until the cancer is no longer detected. The diagnosis of the removed tissue is made in real-time, so the patient can be confirmed cancer-free the same day. The process can take several hours to fulling remove the cancer.

After Care Instructions: First Wash Your Hands With Soap and Water

1. You may apply an ice pack following surgery. Apply the ice pack on for 20 minutes, and then remove for 20 minutes, and repeat the process as needed. 

2. Remember, applying direct pressure to the surgery site stops bleeding.

3. You may take Tylenol for Pain if needed.

4. Leave the wound dressing on for 24 hours

5. While showering, remove your current dressing and clean your wound, and the remove for gently with warm water and soap to remove any dried blood and prevent scab formation.

6. Apply Vaseline ointment at least one time daily, and cover the entire wound with a band-aide or gauze dressing.

7. On your scheduled day of suture removal, cleanse the wound, and leave the area DRY(do not apply any ointment) and return to our office at your scheduled time to have the sutures removed

8. If your wound is in the beard area on your face or other area where you normally shave, please avoid shaving near the wound.

9. If the surgical site starts to bleed excessively and doesn't stop with applied pressure for 15 minutes, the dressing become saturated with blood. If there is excessive swelling or the site become inflamed and warm to the touch. Call the office at 843-215-1100

 

Typically used to treat minor skin cancers and pre-cancerous lesions, cryosurgery involves the use of liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the cancer cells. The procedure, also known as cryotherapy is repeated until the affected area no longer shows signs of pre-cancer or cancer.

After Care Instructions: 

1. You do note need to cover the area treated, unless instructed to do so.

2. The discomfort is temporary but may last for 10-30 minutes after treatment.

3. the area may appear red for up to one hour after freezing but often returns to normal color within 10-15 minutes.

4. A blister may form within 24 hours of treatment. this may be clear fluid filled or blood filled, if it is uncomfortable, you may drain it by using a clean needle cleansed with alcohol. If this is done, cover with a Band-Aid and Vaseline ointment for approximately one week. This bandage should be changed daily. 

5. Sometimes a scab will will form over the area treated. This will come off on its own and does not need to be covered.

6. If you have any questions or concerns after reading the above information, please do not hesitate to call our office at 843-215-1100



Side Effects of Skin Cancer Removal 

With any kind of skin cancer removal, scarring is likely to occur. Incision sites may be sore, red, or drain small amounts of fluid. Healing will continue for weeks and even months after your surgery, incision lines will fade and continue to improve. Sun exposure on wounds and scar lines can result in irregular pigmentation or cause the sight to become red, raised, or dark, so patients should follow post-op preventative instructions carefully. 

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