Cancer has a high mortality rate, so if you or one of your loved ones has been diagnosed with skin cancer, it’s natural to be concerned. While you need to ensure that you catch and treat skin cancer early on, most types of skin cancer are not deadly. Other types can be, if allowed to progress far enough.

Here is what you need to know about skin cancer on the face, how it develops, how treatable it is, and what the most common types of skin cancer on the face are.

How Does Skin Cancer On The Face Develop?

Skin cancer is the abnormal growth of skin cells that most often develops on skin that has been sun-damaged, although it can also occur on skin that does not typically get sunlight. Skin cancer may spread to other parts of the body.

People of all skin tones can get skin cancer. People with darker skin who get skin cancer typically get it in areas that are not normally exposed to the sun, such as the soles of your feet or the palms of your hands. 

How Treatable Is Skin Cancer?

Most skin cancer can be cured if treated early enough and before they get the chance to spread. However, advanced cases of melanoma can be fatal. The earlier you obtain treatment, the better. 

When found early, skin cancer is highly treatable. The dermatologist can typically remove the cancer. However, the longer skin cancer is left untreated, the more difficult it is to treat. Most skin cancers can be removed before they get the chance to spread. 

While some skin cancers grow slowly, melanoma can grow very fast, becoming life-threatening in as little as 6 weeks. As such, it’s important to screen your skin regularly and see your dermatologist if you have any concerns. 

How To Reduce Your Risk Of Skin Cancer

The best way to reduce your risk of skin cancer is to ensure that you protect your skin from UV radiation. 

This means avoiding tanning beds, wearing sunscreen every day, avoiding going outside during peak sun hours (10am-3pm), wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and hats, and the like. Checking your skin regularly for any abnormalities and seeing your dermatologist for screenings or anything that raises concern can help you catch skin cancer early on. 

The earlier you catch skin cancer on the face or elsewhere, the greater your chances are for successful treatment. 

Risk Factors For Skin Cancer

People of all skin tones can get skin cancer. It typically shows up later in life. Knowing your risk factors helps you do what you can to try to combat your risk for getting skin cancer. 

Risk factors include:

• Fair skin
• Moles
• Family history of skin cancer
• Personal history of skin cancer
• History of sunburns
• Excessive sun exposure
• Being exposed to arsenic
• Having long-lasting skin inflammation
• Exposure to radiation
• Sunny/high-altitude climates
• Weakened immune system

Your risk of skin cancer increases with age. 

Types Of Skin Cancer On Face

Skin cancer starts at your skin’s top layer and works its way deeper. There are three main types of skin cancer: squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. 

Squamous cells are just below the outer surface/skin’s inner lining. Basal cells produce new skin cells and are just beneath squamous cells. Melanocytes produce melanin and are the lower part of your epidermis.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

If you have lighter skin, this type of skin cancer is most often seen on areas like your face that get a lot of sun. If you have darker skin, this type of skin cancer usually appears on areas that don’t get much sun. 

This looks like firm, red nodules, almost like pimples, or flat lesions with scaly, crusty surfaces. This usually grows slowly, but certain forms may grow faster. 

Basal Cell Carcinoma

This usually occurs on areas of your skin that get exposed to the sun, such as your face. This type of skin cancer on the face looks like pearly/waxy bumps, flat lesions, or bleeding/scabbing sores that heal and then return. This grows slowly, but may grow deeper. 

Melanoma

This is the most likely to be deadly type of skin cancer on the face. This can develop anywhere on your body on either otherwise normal skin or a mole that has become cancerous.

People with darker skin tones usually get melanomas on their palms, soles, or under their fingernails or toenails. In people with lighter skin, men usually get melanomas on their face or torso while women usually get them on their lower legs. 

It looks like a large brownish spot with darker spots, a mole that has changed color/size/feel/that bleeds/has an irregular border/discolorations, etc. If you suspect that you have a melanoma, it’s crucial that you see your dermatologist right away, as this is the type of skin cancer that can be deadly. 

Treatment Options For Skin Cancer On Your Face

You can discuss treatment options with your dermatologist. Treatment varies depending on the type of skin cancer that you have and how far along it is. Depending on where on your face the skin cancer is, it may be more difficult to treat, such as on your eyelid or your nose. 

Treatment typically involves removing the cancer, while some treatments involve laser surgery, cryosurgery, photodynamic therapy, etc. If the cancer spreads, chemotherapy may be recommended. 

Your dermatologist cares about preserving your appearance, the same as you do. This is why skin cancer on the face can be challenging, as your dermatologist wants to get rid of the cancer while also achieving cosmetic results without challenges to facial functionality. 

Are You Concerned About Skin Cancer?

Allen-Taintor Dermatology is here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a screening and to go over any questions you may have.

As summer encroaches upon us, sunscreens flood the store shelves. Many people know that you need sunscreen if you’re going to be spending a day at the beach or hiking in broad daylight, but many people don’t realize that you need to wear sunscreen every day. There are all sorts of myths about sunscreen that cause people to think they don’t need to wear it on the daily, such as if you have darker skin, you don’t need it, or if it’s cloudy or you’re going to spend the day inside, you don’t need it either. 

However, everyone, regardless of skin tone, needs to wear sunscreen every day. Yes, this is true even if it’s cloudy or you’re not going outside. Sun exposure can cause all sorts of problems from premature aging to sunburns to skin cancer. Sunscreen protects your skin and helps keep you healthy. Here are some of the key reasons why you need to wear sunscreen every day.

#1. It Reduces Your Risk Of Developing Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, affecting approximately 1 in 5 people. If you wear sunscreen everyday, you can decrease your risk of developing skin cancer, since ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer. While you can’t avoid UV rays, sunscreen offers protection that can block them. 

While skin cancer is more common in people with light skin, people who have darker skin tend to get more serious types of skin cancer. This is especially true since skin cancer tends to go undetected in people with darker skin tones until it is further along, and thus, harder to treat. Ergo, regardless of your skin tone, you should be wearing sunscreen every day in order to protect your skin from harmful UV rays and reduce your risk of developing skin cancer. Sunscreen can help to reduce your risk of melanoma by 50%. 

Since skin cancer is so common, it’s recommended that you get familiar with your skin so that you can detect any suspicious-looking moles or skin abnormalities early on. You can conduct a self-examination every month, and then if you do spot something suspicious, your dermatologist will be able to screen you and conduct a thorough examination. 

#2. It Helps To Prevent Premature Aging

There are countless different skin care products on the market that claim to help with aging skin, and yet, one of the best things you can do in order to prevent premature aging is to wear sunscreen every day. This is because sun exposure can result in damaged skin and break down the collagen and elastin in your skin which help your skin maintain its elasticity and lift. 

Sunscreen helps to protect your skin’s collagen and elastin levels, which helps you avoid over 80% of the signs of aging such as:

• Wrinkles
• Fine lines
• Dryness
• Sagginess
• Roughness
• Skin discoloration (such as sunspots, hyper pigmentation, and the like)

This is why you should wear sunscreen every day, even if it’s overcast or you’re going to be spending the day inside. UV rays can still penetrate through clouds and windows, which means that even if it’s cloudy and you’re in your room, you can still get sun damaged skin. Even if you don’t get sunburnt, your skin can still be damaged by the sun, so you should wear sunscreen every day.

#3. It Prevents Sunburn

Even on a cloudy day, you can still get sunburnt. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time out in the sun, your risk of getting a sunburn goes up even higher. Sunburns can be incredibly painful and result in lasting skin damage, such as premature aging, melanoma, discoloration, and more. Through ensuring that you wear sunscreen every day, you can protect yourself from getting sunburnt. 

It’s recommended that you apply sunscreen 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and that you reapply it every 2 hours, especially if you’re going to be out in the sun all day. If you’re spending time in the water, you want to reapply your sunscreen after getting out. While some sunscreens are water resistant for a certain amount of time, usually 40-80 minutes, a waterproof sunscreen has yet to be invented. Thus, in order to keep your skin protected, you need to reapply your sunscreen accordingly. 

#4. It Decreases Inflammation

Sun exposure doesn’t just put you at risk of sunburn, it can also cause inflammation, which can be especially challenging for people with skin conditions such as rosacea or psoriasis. If you wear sunscreen every day, you can decrease your risk of skin inflammation, especially if you use a sunscreen with gentle ingredients, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If you struggle to find a sunscreen that works with your skin, your dermatologist can help you. 

Keep Your Skin Healthy

Allen-Taintor Dermatology wants to help you ensure that your skin stays healthy. We can help with skin cancer screenings, as well as provide advice on the types of sunscreens you should use in order to keep your skin healthy and protected. To learn more about how sunscreen can help protect your skin or to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today!