Skin Cancer Specialist
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Orange Coast Dermatology
Medical, Surgical and Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser Specialist located in Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange, & Mission Viejo, CA
Skin cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in the United States — around 20% of Americans develop skin cancer by the age of 70. At Orange Coast Dermatology in Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange, and Mission Viejo, California, the team diagnoses and treats all types of skin cancer. If you’re concerned about skin cancer, call Orange Coast Dermatology or schedule a consultation online today.
Skin Cancer Q&A
What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer develops when abnormal cells multiply rapidly and form tumors. Skin cancer usually starts in one of three types of skin cells.
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinomas begin in your basal cells. They usually grow on your head, nose, and neck. Basal cell carcinomas have variations that affect their appearance. They might look like a non-healing sore or an irregularly shaped plaque. Some are dark blue or black.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinomas begin in your squamous cells and can form anywhere on your body but are most common on skin that receives a lot of sun exposure. They look like red-brown scaly patches of skin, similar to eczema or psoriasis.
Melanoma
Melanomas begin in your melanin cells. It’s the most aggressive type of skin cancer, but the team can treat it effectively when they catch it early. Melanomas look like abnormally shaped and colored moles.
Actinic keratosis
Actinic keratoses are precancerous cells. These scaly patches of skin aren’t cancer but can turn into cancer when untreated.
How is skin cancer diagnosed?
The team at Orange Coast Dermatology provides thorough skin cancer screenings. If they find an irregular patch of skin and suspect cancer, they take a biopsy to test and diagnose. During a biopsy, they scrape or excise a sample of cells and send it to a lab for analysis.
How do you treat skin cancer?
The team at Orange Coast Dermatology provides several treatments for skin cancer. If your biopsy is positive, you have a consultation to discuss your options, ask questions, and plan your next steps. Some of the treatment options include:
Curettage and electrodesiccation
The team offers curettage and electrodesiccation to remove actinic keratosis, basal cell, and squamous cell carcinomas. After thoroughly numbing and cleaning your skin, your provider uses a curette to scrape away the cancerous cells.
Then, they use electrodesiccation to cauterize the area. Cauterization increases the chances of successful treatment and reduces bleeding.
Mohs surgery
Mohs surgery is an innovative and precise procedure to remove skin cancer. It’s an outpatient procedure that involves removing skin cancer layer by layer to reduce damage to the surrounding healthy tissue.
Call Orange Coast Dermatology or make an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and treatment for skin cancer.
