There are a number of risk factors that can predispose you to the three most common skin cancers in the United States. The number of newly diagnosed basal cell cancer, squamous cell cancer, and melanoma skin cancer cases is steadily rising in the Western world. Adult men and women are becoming increasingly vigilant about using sunscreen to protect against damaging Ultraviolet light from sun exposure.
Skin Cancer Dermatology Beverly Hills | Santa Monica
You may be wondering whether a newly developed mole on your skin is a skin cancer or a benign mole. There are many factors that predispose to skin cancer and these can be related to family history, genetics, your personal exposure to extreme sun, and the number and severity of sunburns you have had in your life. There are three main types of skin cancers that occur commonly in healthy adults, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or the dreaded melanoma. Although these are typically seen by our board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, there are many other skin cancer variants that are of concern and these can occur in healthy children and adults of all skin types.
At Kare Plastic Surgery and Skin Health Center, we specialize in the dermatoscope diagnosis and surgical management of skin cancers. We have the most experiencd skin cancer doctors and believe wholeheartedly in skin cancer screening, diagnosis, management, and surgical removal.
Testing Your Skin Cancer Mole with a Biopsy
There are so many steps before you are committed to a skin cancer biopsy. Our office specializes in skin cancer diagnosis and treatment and our board certified dermatologist begins with a careful medical history and full body examination to determine whether any of your moles fit screening criteria for a biopsy. If you are concerned about a specific mole, our dermatologist can do a localized evaluation under dermatoscope to determine the likelihood of a skin cancer based on microscopic details. The removal of a skin cancer specimen begins with a local anesthetic, followed by removal of a small section of the mole. This biopsy is been sent to a board certified dermatopathologist who will look under the microscope to determine whether there are clinical signs and histopathologic features that may suggest that this is a skin cancer. The next step is for the dermatopathologist to determine whether this is a benign mole, a squamous cell cancer, a basal cell skin cancer, or a melanoma. Some of these pre-cancerous moles can have features that make them designated as a precancerous mole that has not yet converted into a frank carcinoma.
If a mole is determined to be a skin cancer, our board certified dermatologist will examine the histopathologic findings and suggest a suitable treatment algorithm that conform to the latest standards for oncologic treatment. This may include surgery, mole ablation, topical treatments, or observation, depending on the clinical stage of the skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Screening and Biopsy in Santa Monica | Beverly Hills
Kare Plastic Surgery + Skin Health Center in Santa Monica provides comprehensive skin cancer screenings and skin cancer biopsy treatments for patients worried about a new onset skin cancer growth. At Kare we can evaluate your skin to determine if there is a need for skin cancer biopsy.
The goal of skin cancer biopsy is to treat early, before disease can spread within the skin. Early-stage skin cancers are easily curable, whereas later-stage skin cancers may be more difficult to control with surgery alone.
If you have noticed a new onset mole that has changed in size or color and are concerned about your risk of skin cancer, our Los Angeles plastic surgery office can help you quickly attain a skin cancer screening and biopsy to determine whether there is any sign of skin cancer.
Please call our office to schedule an appointment with skin cancer specialist at (310) 998-5533.