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With many people using tanning beds and sun lamps, skin cancer cases have spiked. The UV light from these devices results in skin damage, triggering the development of skin cancer. If you’re looking for effective treatments for skin cancer Coral Gables, Martha Viera Dermatology may have the perfect treatment plan.
How skin cancer appears
Skin cancer is the abnormal multiplication of skin cells such as melanocytes, basal cells, and squamous cells, often due to extended periods of exposure to ultraviolet rays from tanning beds or the sun. However, this disease can also develop in areas not usually exposed to the sun. The three forms of skin cancer include squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and basal cell carcinoma. While avoiding UV light and wearing sunscreen are excellent ways of preventing skin, you may not always be able to stop it. Similar to other types of cancer, skin cancer may become malignant, spreading t other body parts if not caught or treated in time. The Martha Viera Dermatology team offers skin cancer examinations and screening to prevent and detect cancer before it causes further harm.
One signature symptom of skin cancer is a change in your skin appearance. You may develop a mole that changes shape, size, or height or a non-healing sore. Skin cancer can manifest as smooth, shiny, scaly, reddish brown, crusty, or yellow lesions. If you notice any unusual changes in your skin appearance, don’t hesitate to inform your doctor for a thorough skin exam.
Factors elevating your risk of skin cancer
Skin cancer is a result of DNA mutations in your skin cells. The exact trigger of this mutation is still a mystery, but medical experts suggest that certain factors may elevate your risk. In most cases, moles are harmless, and medical researchers are still unsure why some turn into melanoma. Exposure to UV light from sun lamps, tanning beds, and the sun can cause skin damage resulting in the abnormal multiplication of your skin cells. If your parents or relatives have ever had melanoma, you may have a higher risk of developing it. In that case, the Martha Viera Dermatology specialists may recommend regular skin examinations, avoiding tanning beds, performing self-skin checks, and prioritizing the use of sunscreen whenever you go out.
How can you address skin cancer
During your appointment, the specialists perform a comprehensive skin examination to confirm or rule out skin cancer. Your care plan will rely on the stage, size, location, and whether cancer has metastasized. The team may recommend surgery to eliminate the cancerous lesions and prevent a recurrence.
They may also recommend cryosurgery to freeze it, Mohs surgery to remove the harmful cells without interfering with the healthy ones, or excisional surgery. Your provider may educate you about the benefits and risks of these surgeries before developing an individualized treatment plan. Your provider may recommend additional treatments like chemotherapy, biological therapy, photodynamic therapy, or radiation therapy to destroy any remaining cancerous cells.
Call the Martha Viera Dermatology office if you suspect skin cancer, or use the online scheduling button to create an appointment.
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