Skin cancer can be a serious problem. If you spend too much time out in the sun without any kind of protection, the UV rays can cause your body to start producing cancer cells. Skin cancer generally takes the form of basal cell carcinoma. It can be sneaky as well and not necessarily show until it's in an advanced stage. So, what are some signs that you may have basal cell carcinoma?
Red Scaly Patch
One sign that you may have basal cell carcinoma is that you have persistent red and scaly patches that are showing up on areas of your skin that get a lot of sun exposure. Those areas can include your face, ears, arms, neck, and possibly your legs. The problem with this sign is that it can look like it's eczema or psoriasis, so you may end up ignoring it because of that fact. The fact that it can be itchy, like those other two conditions, can reinforce the fact that it may be just a skin condition and not something worse. However, the patches may not bother you at all or they could ooze. If you have multiple patches, each one may react differently.
Pink Growths
Another sign that you have basal cell carcinoma is that you start developing pink growths. These growths are generally circular. The edges will be raised and appear that they are rolled in toward the center of the growth. The middle of the growth will be depressed or indented. It will also be crusty. When it gets larger and develops more, you may see some very small blood vessels start to appear on the surface of the growth. The growth will get bigger, but it's generally slow growing, so you may not notice any changes to it immediately.
Open Sores
Another sign that you may have skin cancer is that you have open sores that just don't seem to go away. They may appear to get better or to start to get better, but they never quite close and go away. If the sore does get temporarily better, it will be just a matter of days before it starts opening back up and bleeding again.
If you have any of these signs, you should immediately go see a dermatologist. You don't want to let any cancer last too long or get a foothold. Skin cancer in its early stages can be easily treated and removed. But the further it goes, the more drastic the treatment will be.
Share16 December 2016
When I started taking my skincare regimen more seriously, I started carefully evaluating my daily routine. I realized that I wasn't taking care of my skin like I should, so I met with a dermatologist to talk about the details. My skin doctor was incredibly kind and caring, and he did everything he could to explain what my skin needed. He started me on a skincare regimen that started that day, and I could tell that he was on to something. Within a few months, my skin looked clean, clear, and incredibly healthy. This blog is all about understanding dermatology concerns and knowing how to address serious problems.