Skin Cancer services offered in Mooresville, NC

It’s important to learn how to self-examine your skin for skin cancer and to book yearly screenings with your dermatologist if you’re at risk. Board-certified dermatologist Blake Sanders, DO, FAAD, and his team evaluate, diagnose, and treat skin cancer using the latest dermatological advancements at Sacred Heart Dermatology in Mooresville, North Carolina. Learn more about skin cancer and evaluate your risk by scheduling an appointment by phone or online today.

Skin Cancer Q&A

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in the United States and around the world. Like other forms of cancer, it involves the uncontrolled growth of particular cells. Many of them come from ultraviolet (UV) light damage, which affects cell DNA. Different types of skin cancer begin in different cell types of the dermis or epidermis, with some of the most common being:

Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma starts in basal cells, which are located in the deeper portion of the epidermis. It’s the most common type.

Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma originates in squamous cells, which are closer to the surface of the epidermis. They’re longer and flatter than basal cells.

Melanoma
Melanoma is one of the more serious varieties and has a higher likelihood than others of being malignant. It originates in melanocytes, which are cells that produce your skin’s pigment.

How does skin cancer screening work?

Skin cancer screening is an important preventive service you can get at Sacred Heart Dermatology. Dr. Sanders offers adults yearly full-body skin exams to screen for skin cancers of all kinds. He looks at every part of your body for new or evolving moles, spots, and lesions that you might not notice on your own.

Dr. Sanders uses a noninvasive technique called dermoscopy to view structures in your skin that aren’t visible to the naked eye. If he finds any signs of cancerous or precancerous lesions, he might take a biopsy for further examination of the cells.

Dr. Sanders can also advise you on how to detect signs of skin cancer at home. Skin cancer can have many different physical features, including an array of colors, sizes, shapes, and elevations. If you notice any new lesions, or if you have a mole that has changed in appearance, contact Sacred Heart Dermatology for a diagnostic examination.

How is skin cancer treated?

Dr. Sanders provides comprehensive care for skin with UV light damage, particularly skin cancer. There are multiple treatments that help remove cancerous lesions or kill cancerous cells, and you might need more than one of them at Sacred Heart Dermatology.

Your options for skin cancer treatment include:

• Topical chemotherapy
• Cryosurgery
• Surgical excisions
• Radiation therapy

In some cases, Dr. Sanders collaborates with other physicians to treat skin cancer. He may refer you to a dermatological surgeon who specializes in Mohs surgery, for example, which is a surgery to remove skin cancer without removing healthy cells and tissues around the margins.

Schedule your next full body skin exam for skin cancer by phone or online at Sacred Heart Dermatology today.