Skin Cancer Surgery

DERMATOLOGIC, SURGICAL AND COSMETIC CARE IN PLANTATION, FL

Skin Cancer Surgery services offered in Plantation, FL

Skin cancer affects one in every five people in the United States and can show up on any skin tone, even though it’s most prevalent among fair-skinned individuals. When you notice a changing mole or unusual lesion, double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon Elyse Julian, DO, FAAD, evaluates your skin and can conduct skin cancer treatment at Leading Edge Dermatology in Plantation, Florida. Schedule your appointment over the phone or online for a skin cancer evaluation today.

Skin Cancer Surgery Q&A

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and tends to come from ultraviolet (UV) light damage to skin cells. This light comes from the sun, so you’re exposed to it almost daily. While sunscreen offers some protection, it’s important to be aware of the signs of skin cancer and schedule screenings if your dermatologist recommends them.

Leading Edge Dermatology provides evaluations and treatment for melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Melanoma originates in the pigment-producing skin cells that create a pigment called melanin. Other common skin cancers include squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.

How is skin cancer diagnosed?

Leading Edge Dermatology provides diagnostic exams for skin cancer. You should regularly look your skin over for suspicious lesions and pay extra close attention to the moles you already have. Unusual features of existing moles could indicate melanoma, such as features like:

Asymmetry
Border irregularity
Color variance
Diameter over six millimeters
Evolving features (any changes to a mole)

Whether you notice something suspicious on your own or your dermatologist detects irregularities during a skin cancer screening, the lesion in question needs a closer look. Your dermatologist might take a biopsy of the mole or lesion to examine the tissue up close under a microscope and test it for cancer.

How is skin cancer treated?

There are multiple strategies to treat skin cancer, and your dermatologist makes recommendations based on the type and severity of cancer you have. Early detection means easier and more effective treatment. With options like superficial radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy, you may be able to get rid of the cancerous cells entirely.

Leading Edge Dermatology specializes in an advanced treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer called Mohs micrographic surgery. This procedure involves removing small portions of tissue stage-by-stage, with your dermatologist examining the removed cells under a microscope between excisions.

Mohs surgery happens in the comfort of the luxurious office and uses a microscope to view the margins of your skin cancer in real time. It results in less skin damage and less scarring than traditional skin cancer excision.

For more information about Mohs surgery and other treatments for skin cancer, call Leading Edge Dermatology or schedule an appointment online today.

skin cancer