Skin Cancer
The sun, although essential in providing light, warmth and life to our world, is unfortunately also an important source of harmful ultraviolet UVA and UVB radiation. With the depletion of the ozone layer, the UV rays are more easily able to penetrate the skin, damage our skin’s DNA and cause skin cancer. Worldwide, we are seeing rising rates of skin cancer.

• Actinic Keratoses are typically red, rough, scaly patches that are considered premalignant. They are
usually treated with liquid nitrogen, 5-floururacil (Efudex or Carac), or photodynamic therapy.

• Basal Cell Carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. Superficial tumors of the trunk and limbs are frequently removed by electrodessication and curettage. Well-defined deeper tumors are removed by excision. Facial, large, or recurrent tumors are best removed by Mohs surgery.

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma, although less common than Basal Cell Carcinoma, is slightly more aggressive and is almost always removed by excision or Mohs surgery. In special circumstances, radiation treatments are also needed.

• Malignant Melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, usually appears as an enlarging black and irregular mole. Early detection and removal is vital to ensure a cure and prevent it from spreading or metastasizing.

In treating cancerous growths, we always select the skin cancer surgery option most appropriate for the individual patient and tumor type.

Mole

Moles are very common skin growths which are usually small and tan or brownish, are sometimes raised, and may occasionally change shape or color. Dermatologists remove moles to improve appearance, to prevent the mole from enlarging, or to prevent cancer.

Moles that are irritated by daily living are should be removed. These moles may interfere with shaving or may rub against clothing. The techniques used to remove these moles are the same as those used to remove moles that are cosmetically undesirable.

There are many people who have one or more moles that they see as detracting from their overall appearance. Not all undesirable moles, however, are candidates for cosmetic mole removal. Figuring out which moles are appropriate candidates requires careful judgment.

There are two main methods used for mole removal. Moles can either be shaved off of the surrounding skin or excised with the underlying and surrounding skin and then stitched. For best results, the dermatologist customizes the technique best suited for the individualiz. The shave excision method is the most frequently selected method for mole removal, as it tends to produce optimal cosmetic results for most cases. Shave excision is also generally best for moles that are irritated by clothing or shaving. For shave excision, the skin around and under the mole is injected with lidocaine anesthetic. This takes away any minor pain of the procedure. It also raises and firms the skin treatment site. Then a small sharp scalpel blade, often lubricated with mineral oil, is used to precisely remove the raised and pigmented mole tissue while leaving a cut surface that is flush with the surrounding skin.

Skin Tags

A skin tag is a soft, skin-colored growth that hangs from the surface of the skin on a thin piece of tissue called a stalk. Its medical name is acrochordon. Skin tags are not skin cancer and cannot turn into skin cancer.

Skin tags typically appear as people age. Skin tags are quite common in people 60 and older. Skin tags are more common in women. A tendency to develop skin tags may run in families. Skin tags also develop commonly after pregnancy.

Skin tags appear most often in skin folds of the neck, armpits, torso, beneath the breasts or in the genital region. They can become an irritation if they occur in an area where clothing or jewelry rubs against them, and they may be unsightly.
Our staff at Skin Perfection will remove your skin tags with sharp scissors, a sharp blade or, less commonly, by freezing or burning them off at the stalk. Bleeding can be stopped with a chemical (aluminum chloride) or electric (cauterizing) treatment.

Cysts

(also know as sebaceous cysts) are small closed sacs that contain fluid or solid material. A cyst is an infection and requires that the dermatologist drain the contents and sometimes surgically remove the cyst. Sebaceous cysts most often arise from swollen hair follicles. Skin trauma can also induce a cyst to form. A sac of cells is created into which a protein called keratin is secreted.

Cysts are usually found on the face, neck, and trunk. They are usually slow- growing, painless, freely movable lumps beneath the skin. Occasionally, however, a cyst will become inflamed and tender.
 
The dermatologist removes cysts by the injection of steroid medications.

Age Spots

The medical name for an age spot is a lentigo.  Lentigos are caused by excess sun exposure and are normally seen on the hands and face.  Treatment of age spots or lentigos are with Liquid Nitrogen or with prescriptions.