Health

Effective Skin Cancer Detection and Treatment in Glen Allen, VA

Cancer is a disease that occurs due to the abnormal growth of cells in the body. Skin cancer is Q2the most common form of cancer and can be hazardous if it’s left untreated. If skin cancer is detected early, specialists can treat it, and there are high chances of eliminating it. Patricia O’Connor, MD, and the expert team at Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center offer routine screenings of skin cancer in Glen Allen to ensure early detection and treatment to prevent complications. To learn more about skin cancer treatment, call or book an appointment online.

What Is Skin Cancer?

This refers to abnormal skin cell growth that usually occurs in response to sun exposure. The main types of skin cancer include melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Having routine skin cancer screenings is the best way to detect these diseases before they cause serious health problems. The Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center team carries out full-body screenings to assess potential skin cancer.  The providers are skilled in dermoscopy and use a dermatoscope to assess an individual lesion’s malignancy risk.

What Are The Risk Factors For Skin Cancer?

While skin cancer might occur to anyone, there are risk factors that might increase the probability of developing skin cancer. Some of the risk factors include fair skin, excessive sun exposure, a history of blistering sunburns, actinic keratoses, a history of atypical moles or more than 50 moles, family or personal history of skin cancer, a weak immune system, and exposure to radiation or toxins.  The best way to lower your skin cancer chances is to protect your skin from the sun by using sunscreen year-round and wearing protective clothing and hats.

What Should You Expect In A Skin Cancer Screening?

When you are scheduled for screening, you should prepare well for the session by:

AvoidING make-up. This will allow the doctor to have a close examination of the skin around your face. Remove nail polish. This will allow the doctor to examine your fingers, nails, and nail beds.

Have loose hair so that your scalp can also be examined. During the screening, your doctor will request you to change into a gown to examine the examination successfully. The dermatologist will then review the skin all over your body, considering signs such as freckles, lesions, abnormal growth, and moles.

What Are The Available Skin Cancer Treatment Options?

Skin cancer treatment depends on the type of skin cancer, its location on the body, and the degree or size of skin involvement. Depending on these factors, the available treatments range from more conservative to more aggressive. These include Mohs surgery, excisional surgery, and immune-modulating topical. When conducting Mohs surgery, the doctor eliminates one layer at a time, checking the margins under the microscope. If the skin cancer has spread, they will develop an interdisciplinary approach to your treatment with an oncologist.

In conclusion, most cancerous cases are treatable when they are found early. They tend to spread to other areas when they don’t get detected and treated early, so don’t let skin cancer go undetected. Talk to your dermatologist when you notice abnormalities on your skin and whether you need screening. Call or book an appointment online with Absolute Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center today.

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