What Is Skin Cancer? 

Skin cancer occurs when abnormal skin cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled way. The three most common types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. 

Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are the most common types of skin cancer. They typically develop in areas that receive a lot of sun exposure, such as the face, scalp, ears, neck, arms, and hands. Melanoma is less common but can be more serious because it has greater potential to spread to other parts of the body. 

One of the challenges with skin cancer is that it does not always look like what people expect. It may appear as a new growth, a changing mole, a rough or scaly patch, a sore that does not heal, or a spot that bleeds or repeatedly comes back. 

Why Skin Checks Matter 

One of the biggest advantages of seeing a dermatologist is that we are trained to recognize changes that may be difficult to identify on your own. 

During a full-body skin examination, your dermatologist looks carefully at your skin, including areas that you may not routinely check yourself. If a spot looks suspicious, we may recommend a biopsy. A biopsy involves removing a small sample of skin and sending it to a pathologist for examination under a microscope. This is how skin cancer is diagnosed. 

Not every unusual-looking spot is skin cancer, and not every mole needs to be removed. That is why an examination by an experienced dermatology professional can be so helpful. How often you need a skin examination depends on your individual risk factors and your history. If you have had skin cancer before, have many moles, have significant sun exposure, or have other risk factors, your dermatologist may recommend more frequent examinations. 

What Can You Do to Prevent Skin Cancer? 

You cannot control every risk factor for skin cancer, but there are several things you can do that dermatologists recommend to protect your skin.  

Those preventative measures include making sun protection part of your daily routine. Wear protective clothing and a wide-brimmed hat and use sunscreen on exposed skin. Remember that sun protection is important not only at the beach or pool, but during everyday activities such as walking, gardening, playing sports, or working outside. 

It is also important to become familiar with your own skin. Take a few minutes periodically to look for new or changing spots. If something catches your attention, do not ignore it simply because it does not hurt. 

How Calvert Dermatology Helps 

At Calvert Dermatology, we understand that hearing the words “skin cancer” can be stressful. Our goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible and to make sure you understand what is happening at every step. Our dermatology team provides comprehensive skin examinations and evaluates new, changing, or concerning growths. When a biopsy is needed, we can help determine the appropriate next step based on the findings. 

If skin cancer is diagnosed, treatment depends on the type of cancer, its location, size, and other individual factors. There is no single treatment that is right for every patient. Our Skin Cancer Center offers several treatment options, which are performed by Dr. Faris Hawit, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. These treatments include Mohs Micrographic Surgery, melanoma surgery, local destruction of selected precancerous and superficial skin cancers, Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), and Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT) for appropriate patients. 

Mohs surgery is a specialized technique that allows the surgeon to examine the tissue margins during the procedure, removing cancer while working to preserve as much healthy surrounding tissue as possible. It is particularly useful for certain skin cancers and locations where preserving healthy tissue is important. For some patients, surgery may be the best option. For others, a non-surgical or less invasive treatment may be appropriate. We take the time to discuss the options and create an individualized treatment plan based on your specific diagnosis and needs.