Skin Disorders

  Skin cancer is a disease in which skin cells grow abnormally. In healthy skin new cells develop all the time to replace older cells. These normal new cells multiply and grow in an orderly way. If skin cells grow out of control they form a mass or ‘tumor’.  A skin tumor is considered benign (not cancer) […]

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. Energy from the sun actually is a form of radiation. It consists of visible light and other rays that people can’t see. Invisible infrared radiation, for instance, makes sunlight feel hot. UV also is invisible, and causes sunburn and sun tan. UV rays

Doctors often can recognize skin cancer just by looking at it. Encourage your doctor to look for growths by doing a complete examination of the entire skin surface during a physical examination at least once a year; more often if you already have a past history of skin cancer. Many people detect skin cancer themselves

Cancers go through distinct periods, phases, or stages in their growth. The process of determining the stage of cancer is called “staging.” A doctor must know the stage of a cancer in order to pick the most effective treatment. Advanced cancer that has spread needs treatment quite different than localized cancer growing only in the

Treatment of skin cancer depends on the type of skin cancer its stage and location and the individual’s age and overall health People with small basal cell carcinomas, for instance, may need only simple treatment. That’s because basal cell cancers rarely spread to other parts of the body and seldom are fatal. Squamous cell carcinomas

Doctors often measure the success of cancer treatment in terms of the five-year survival rate. A person usually is considered to be cured if he or she is alive and without any trace of skin cancer five years after first being diagnosed. The chances of a cure depend on many factors, including how early the

The most important preventive measure is to avoid excessive exposure to the sun. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight damages the genetic material DNA in skin cell genes. This increases the risk that a normal cell will start growing abnormally and become cancerous. UV rays also damage the structure of the skin in ways that cause

There is reason for both concern and optimism. Some scientists are concerned that thinning of Earth’s protective ozone layer may cause more cases of skin cancer. The ozone layer is a band of gas high in the atmosphere. It filters some UV radiation from sunlight. Industrial chemicals, now banned in the United States and some

Here are some frequently asked questions related to skin cancer. Q: My husband was treated for small skin cancers on his forearms. The dermatologist said they were basal cell carcinomas. She used curettage and electrodessication to destroy the tumors, and told my husband it cured the cancer. Was the doctor being too confident? A: The doctor was just being realistic. Basal cell