Signs You May Have Skin Cancer

When most people think of cancer, they picture breast, lung or colon cancers. However, melanoma and other skin cancers are more common than most realize. Thousands of Americans get diagnosed with skin cancer every day! Find top-tier Bay Area skin cancer treatment! Visit this website to connect with specialists and access personalized care plans for your skin health.

Your skin is your largest organ, so you must know how to identify potential signs of cancer to stay healthy. Early detection is key. The earlier you go in for Bay Area skin cancer treatment, the better the prognosis.

Here are a few signs that you may have skin cancer.

Irregular Spots or Atypical Moles

One of the most deadly types of skin cancer is melanoma. It can appear as a newly formed spot. However, it can also occur in an existing mark that changes colors.

Melanoma spots are rarely consistent in color. You may see shades of white, gray, pink, red or brown in a single mark. If you notice any changes to existing moles, visit a dermatologist as soon as possible. Melanoma can spread to other parts of the body.

Contrary to popular belief, melanoma doesn't always develop in an area with tons of sun exposure. That's why it's important to check your entire body.

New Raised Growths

Nodular melanoma is another type of skin cancer. However, instead of the discolored marks of common melanoma, nodular melanoma causes noticeable growth.

The growth is usually dome-shaped. The marks may come out of nowhere and continue growing in size quickly. Nodular melanoma spots are firm to the touch and may start to bleed or crust over.

Lumpy Lesions

Basal cell carcinoma is a less dangerous form of skin cancer, but you should still seek Bay Area skin cancer treatment if you spot signs of it. This cancer results in lumpy or scaly patches. They are usually red but can take on shades of pale pink.

You're most likely to see basal cell carcinoma marks on parts of the body that get significant sun exposure. For example, they often develop on the face.

Crusty Spots

Finally, there's squamous cell carcinoma. This type of skin cancer looks like a red, scaly spot. The mark may ulcerate and crust over.

This cancer grows slowly over time. However, it usually appears on body parts that get substantial sun exposure, making them easy to detect in the early stages.

Read a similar article about the best dermatologist in the Bay Area here at this page.