Basal skin cancer, is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Most skin cancers are basal cancer it common in people over age 40. However, it occurs in younger people, too.
Basal skin cancer starts in the top layer of the skin called the epidermis. Most basal cell cancers occur on skin that is regularly exposed to sunlight. This includes the top of your head, or scalp.
You are more likely to get basal skin cancer if you have:
- Light-colored skin
- Blue, green, or grey eyes
- Many moles
- Many severe sunburns early in life
- Blond or red hair
- Close relatives who have or had skin cancer
- Long-term daily sun exposure (such as the sun exposure people who work outside receive)
Symptoms
Basal skin cancer grows slowly and is usually painless. It may not look that different from your normal skin. You may have a skin bump or growth that is:
- Pearly or waxy
- White or light pink
- Flesh-colored or brown
In some cases the skin may be just slightly raised or even flat.
You may have:
- A skin sore that bleeds easily
- A sore that does not heal
- crusting spots in a sore
- A scar-like sore without having injured the area
- Irregular blood vessels in or around the spot
- A sore with a depressed (sunken) area in the middle
Exams and Tests
Your doctor will check your skin and look at the size, shape, color, and texture of any suspicious areas.
If your doctor thinks you might have skin cancer, a piece of skin will be removed and sent to a lab for examination under a microscope.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the size, depth, and location of the skin cancer, and your overall health.
Treatment may require :
- Excision: Cutting out the skin cancer and stitching the skin together
- Curettage and electrodesiccation: Scraping away cancer cells and using electricity to kill any that remain
- Cryosurgery: Freezing the cancer cells, which kills them
- Medication: Skin creams containing imiquimod or 5-fluorouracil for superficial (not very deep) basal cell cancer
- Mohs surgery: Removing a layer of skin and looking at it immediately under a microscope, then removing many layers of skin until there are no signs of the cancer; usually used for skin cancers on the nose, ears, and other areas of the face.
- Photodynamic therapy: Treatment using light
Prevention
To prevent skin cancer is to reduce your exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet light is most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so try to avoid sun exposure during these hours. Protect the skin by wearing hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants.
Always use sunscreen:
- Apply high-quality sunscreens with sun protection factor (SPF) ratings of at least 15, even when you are only going outdoors for a short time.
- Apply a large amount of sunscreen on all exposed areas, including ears and feet.
- Look for sunscreens that block both UVA and UVB light.
- Use a waterproof formula.
- Apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply it frequently, especially after swimming.
- Use sunscreen in winter, too. Protect yourself even on cloudy days.
