The Non-Melanoma skin cancers (NMSC), such as Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), are far more common than Melanoma.
Melanoma is far less common than Basal and Squamous Cell cancers, but may be deadly. Over the last 20 years, the incidence of melanoma has risen dramatically, particularly in women younger than 40. When melanoma is caught in the early stages, the cure rate approaches 100%. Sadly, when melanoma is not detected, once it has already spread from the skin (metastasized), the results can be devastating. Our Providers firmly believe in the importance of avid sun protection, self-examinations and an annual examination by a dermatology provider. Our Providers perform thorough total body skin exams (TBSE) utilizing dermoscopy and arm our patients with information to best protect themselves and lower their melanoma risk factors.
See Images of Melanoma Cell Cancer
Ultimately, dermatology is an art; we customize your treatment recommendations based on the cancer type, location, functionality of the treatment (how a treatment affects you) and its cosmetic outcome (how it will look).
Remember: sunlight damages the skin. Overtime, this damage leads to premature sagging, wrinkling, dulling, freckling, and increased roughness. Think of leather left too long in the sun; it dries, cracks, and deforms, losing its smooth texture and becoming brittle. Skin tags, pre-cancers, and even skin cancer are directly and proportionally connected to cumulative sun exposure over the course of your life.