Warning Signs of Skin Cancer
A dermatologist trained by Harvard warns that some benign faulty draws could be cancer-like. Dr. Daniel Sugai asks patients with persistent pimples that take longer than a month to seek treatment. "If you have a pimple that won’t disappear in four weeks, please see your dermatologist," he said.
Identifying the Signs
Another sign that it’s time to be checked is spots that bleed. "Another complaint that I see is that I only washed my face, and there’s a spot that keeps bleeding, and this makes this cycle of blood," said Sugai. "If you have a spot that doesn’t heal completely or is very fragile with gentle trauma, like how you wash your face, you will definitely see your dermatologist."
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Sugai announced that both symptoms could be signs of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common type of cancer. BCC is diagnosed every year in around 3.6 million Americans. This skin cancer begins in basal cells that produce new skin cells after old ones die. "I diagnose them every day and actually treat them operatively every day," said Sugai.
Characteristics of BCC
BCCs develop "tree-like blood vessels" to support their growth, which means that they are particularly susceptible to bleeding. BCC can manifest itself as a pimple that doesn’t seem to heal, a shiny, skin-colored bump, a white or wax-like lesion, a flat, scaly pavement, or a black, brown, or blue lesion. Sugai stated that BCC is usually pigmented. "It is usually hyperpigmented with some red, and over time it will be an eroded plaque that will easily bleed," he said.
Prevention and Treatment
According to Sugai, the first two decades of life are absolutely critical for sun protection. "In any case, getting these sunburns in life early will influence how healthy your DNA is later in life." Nevertheless, he said, it’s late than ever when it comes to preventive measures. "When you start late in the sun protection game, it’s never too late," advised Sugai. Treatment typically includes the cutting of the affected area from the skin.
Importance of Skin Checks
Like other types of skin cancer, BCCs can develop later in life after years of sunlight. It can often be seen that this type of cancer appears where the sun meets your skin – neck, arms, face, and head – but that doesn’t mean that other parts of the body can’t get it. Experts recommend that people become camouflaged on skin cancer every year, or more often if they have a higher risk. Even areas that don’t typically get sun exposure, such as the vulva or penis, can be affected. New dark stripes or growth in and around the nails should always be evaluated, as melanoma of the nail bed is possible and can be fatal.
