Dermatology & Cosmetology

Skin Cancer

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Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells. It occurs when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds triggers mutations, or genetic defects, that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. Less common skin cancers are non-melanoma skin cancer. Basal-cell cancer grows slowly and can damage the tissue around it but is unlikely to spread to distant areas or result in death. Squamous-cell cancer is more likely to spread.  Melanomas are the most aggressive. Signs include a mole that has changed in size, shape, color, has irregular edges, has more than one color, is itchy or bleeds. Greater than 90% of cases are caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Exposure has increased partly due to a thinner ozone layer. Between 20% and 30% of melanomas develop from moles. People with light skin are at higher risk as are those with poor immune function such as from medications or HIV/AIDS. Diagnosis is possible by biopsy. Treatment of melanoma may involve some combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapy.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 2 million annual cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer (non-melanomas) in the U.S. The occurrence of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, has increased from 47,700 diagnoses in 2000 to 75,000 in 2009.