Skin carcinoma, or skin cancer, occurs as an abnormal growth of cells. It is by far the most common type of cancer. Often, the head, neck, and arms are found to have cancerous lesion, due to the fact that these areas have more sun exposure. A helpful identifier for any concerning lesions can be applied to the ‘ABCD’ rule.
Any lesions that follow any of the identifiers listed above should be evaluated to make a determination on whether it should be removed or not.
Our skin is made up of 3 types of cells. Basal cells are in charge of producing new skin cells. Squamous cells lie just beneath the outer surface. Melanocytes produce melanin, which is the pigment that gives our skin it’s “normal” color. The 3 most common types of skin cancer are listed below, ranked in order of severity:
1. Basal Cell Carcinoma
2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma
3. Melanoma
There are several factors that would increase a persons risk for a cancerous skin lesion, including excessive sun exposure, a history of moles, lesions that have been determined to be pre-cancerous, such as actinic keratosis, a family history of skin cancer, previous exposure to radiation, or a weakened immune system.
Often, when caught early, removing the entirety of the concerning cells will resolve the issue with that particular lesion.
Michigan ENT & Allergy Specialists are highly trained physicians adept at cosmetic reconstruction following resection of skin cancer in tough to treat locations such as the eyelids, nose, and lips. Skin cancers in challenging anatomic locations are frequently referred to the team at Michigan ENT & Allergy Specialists by other physicians. If you or someone you know has concerns with a skin lesion or mole, call and schedule an appointment at (616) 994-2770.