Basal cell cancer is the most common type of skin cancer, affecting millions of people all over the world. Joseph Sedrak, MD, and Laura Cohen, MD, specialize in diagnosing and treating basal cell cancer at California Dermatology Physicians in Huntington Beach, California. They even offer Mohs surgery to remove lesions that appear on the face or scalp. For expert skin cancer care, call California Dermatology Physicians or book an appointment online today.
Basal cell cancer, also called basal cell carcinoma (BCC), is a type of skin cancer that develops from the basal cells, which are the cells in the lowest layer of your epidermis.
When exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or a tanning lamp, the DNA in your basal cells changes, creating cell mutations. Basal cell cancer occurs when there’s an overgrowth of these abnormal cells, creating a tumor or lesion.
Basal cell cancer appears in many ways and may go unnoticed or dismissed as a pimple. Basal cell cancer may look like a:
Basal cell carcinoma usually affects sun-exposed areas of the body like the face, scalp, ears, or neck.
If you have any abnormal or new skin growths, schedule a skin cancer screening at California Dermatology Physicians.
The dermatologists at California Dermatology Physicians customize treatment for your basal cell cancer based on the size and location of your lesion. Treatment options include:
During a surgical excision, your dermatologist at California Dermatology Physicians removes the cancerous lesion and some of the surrounding healthy tissue with a scalpel.
If your basal cell cancer is aggressive or appears on your face or ears, the dermatologist at California Dermatology Physicians may recommend Mohs surgery. For this treatment, they remove only the cancerous lesion and as little of your healthy tissue as possible.
California Dermatology Physicians has a fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon to perform this procedure.
For this procedure, your dermatologist scrapes (electrodessication) out the cancerous lesion and then heats (curettage) the skin to kill any remaining cancer cells.
California Dermatology Physicians recommends PDT for small basal cell cancer lesions. For this treatment, they apply a light-sensitizing solution to the lesion and some of the surrounding skin. Then, they use a specialized light that kills the cancer cells.
Basal cell cancer is common and treatable. Call California Dermatology Physicians or schedule your skin cancer consultation online today.