Skin Cancer Specialist

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a condition caused by uncontrolled skin cell growth, often prompted by too much sun exposure. If you don’t get treatment in some cases, the cancerous cells can spread throughout other parts of your body, becoming very dangerous to your health. If you catch the condition before it spreads, treatment is relatively simple. 

What are some common types of skin cancer?

There are several types of skin cancer, but the three most common are:

Basal cell carcinoma

• This is the most common type of skin cancer and develops in the deepest layer of your skin. It’s rare for this type to spread to other parts of your body, but it can grow to affect bone and tissue around it if you don’t get it removed.

Squamous cell carcinoma

• Squamous cell carcinoma develops on the outer layers of your skin. It often appears in scars and skin sores. It’s possible for this type to spread to other parts of your body, but it is still unlikely. 

Malignant melanoma

• Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer. It develops from the pigment-making cells in your skin, called melanocytes, and shows up as a mole at first. This type is very likely to spread to other areas of your body.

What are my treatment options for skin cancer?

At Chico Dermatology, O. Jay offers several treatment options for skin cancer. He assesses your case to decide which method or methods have the best chance at getting rid of it completely. 

A few available treatments are:

Excision

• O. Jay cuts the cancerous growth from your skin along with some of the at-risk skin and tissue around it. 

Cryosurgery

• O. Jay applies liquid nitrogen to your cancerous growth to freeze it off.

Topical chemotherapy

• Some topical creams and lotions contain an anti-cancer agent that helps kill cancer cells on your skin’s surface.

Skin cancer is concering, but a diagnosis isn’t the end of the world. To explore skin cancer treatments, call Chico Dermatology or go online to book your appointment today.