With 3.5 million cases per year in the United States, skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer. Incidents of skin cancer in Arizona are exceedingly high, globally, ranking second only behind Australia. While we all enjoy the hot summer sun, Arizona is a dangerous environment for the skin. Our high temperatures and frequent sunny days increase your chances of developing skin cancer.
Most skin cancers come from exposure to UltraViolet radiation from the sun. Most are preventable as it’s easy to protect yourself from UV exposure. So, it is crucial to pay attention to the care of your skin. Applying sunscreen and reducing sun exposure are preventative measures that may help you stay free from skin cancer.
Be on the lookout for moles that develop over time, as these may be signs of skin cancer. At Buckeye Dermatology, we recommend you make an appointment with us twice a year for a complete skin examination. Doing so will ensure your skin stays healthy.
Skin cancer in the early stages can be treated, but advanced skin cancer is more challenging to treat, as with Metastatic or Malignant Melanoma, which can spread to other parts of the body. So, there is a need to detect and treat the disease at the early stages.
There are three main types of skin cancer, Basal Cell Carcinoma (BBC), Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC), and Malignant Melanoma. It’s crucial to diagnose which type of skin cancer you may have to know your skin cancer treatment options.
Buckeye Dermatology Skin Cancer Treatments
If you see new growth, a change in a mole, or a sore that doesn’t heal, it may be signs of skin cancer. Please make an appointment with us for skin cancer screening as soon as possible. With a thorough skin cancer exam, if we find any cancer, depending on the type found, the severity, and your needs, we’ll provide the most effective treatment. Our skin cancer treatments include but are not limited to:
Mohs Therapy
Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) is a precise procedure for removing Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma skin cancers. Microscopic control of the tumor margin maximizes the conservation of the patient’s healthy tissue. MMS is helpful for functional and aesthetic areas of the body, such as the head and neck area, the anal and the genital region, and hands and feet.
Mohs surgery is performed at the Buckeye Dermatology office. The surgery involves removing very thin layers of the skin and examining the tissue samples with a microscope to look for cancer cells. Because Mohs Micrographic Surgery is precise and effective, it has the highest reported cure rate for non-melanoma skin cancers.
Brachytherapy for skin cancer
Brachytherapy is non-invasive radiotherapy that complements or replaces surgery for certain types of basal cell or squamous cell skin cancers. For patients who cannot be treated surgically, it’s an effective alternative treatment with few side effects.
The therapy uses a miniaturized x-ray source to deliver a precise high dose of radiation to superficial non-melanoma skin cancers. Brachytherapy minimizes radiation to adjacent healthy tissue reducing the chance of scarring. The treatment is short and gentle, so patients can quickly recover and go back to their routine.
Chemical Peels for sun damage
Moderate chemical peels remove dead skin cells from the outer layers of actinically (sun) damaged skin. It stimulates the skin’s regenerative process by burning off the damaged cells, improving your skin’s quality and health. Buckeye Dermatology offers these professional peels:
- Vitalize Peel® – a powerful non-damaging chemical peel that can remove sun damage and years of aging skin in minutes. A superficial peel it’s suitable for all skin tones and patients with mild-to-moderate skin imperfections such as fine lines and wrinkles. Our licensed medical professionals will provide you with the optimum treatment.
- Perfect Peel – The Perfect Peel works from the inside, reducing or eliminating dark spots from sun damage and melasma. The Perfect Peel contains glutathione, an anti-aging ingredient. Safe and effective, it’s a medium-depth peel for all skin types and ethnicities, resulting in a complexion that appears smooth, glowing, and fresh.
Laser Treatment
Another treatment for moderately severe actinic (sun) damaged skin is Laser Skin Resurfacing. The laser treatment directs short, focused pulsating light beams at skin irregularities, precisely removing the top layer of skin (epidermis) layer by layer. The heat from the laser also penetrates the second layer of skin (dermis), stimulating new collagen growth. The result is skin with a tighter, younger-looking surface.
Electrodesiccation and Curettage (Superficial Skin Cancer)
This skin cancer treatment is used to remove basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. The tumor and adjacent cancerous skin are scraped with a sharp spoon-like instrument called a curette. The skin is removed until we reach the healthy living tissue underneath. This treatment stimulates an intense collagen reaction and leaving you with healthy, rejuvenated skin.
Chemotherapy for the skin
Prescription Medication (Superficial Basal Cell Carcinomas or Actinic Keratosis)
Chemotherapy for the skin destroys mutated cells present in actinic keratoses or superficial cancers. We use topical chemotherapy rather than giving anti-cancer drugs by the mouth or injecting them into a vein. Based on your symptoms, anti-cancer prescription medication is applied directly to your skin.
Anti-cancer prescription medications include:
- Efudex
- Carac or Fluroplex
- Immunotherapy
Cryotherapy (Actinic Keratosis)
Cryotherapy is a treatment that uses freezing or near-freezing temperatures to treat a variety of tissue lesions. Cryotherapy is a standard treatment for actinic keratosis, a scaly patch on the skin that causes the skin to flake off. Over time, new healthy skin forms as the treated areas heal.
Contact us now!
Buckeye Dermatology is dedicated to helping patients achieve healthy, beautiful skin with professional medical and cosmetic dermatological services that treat various skin conditions. Based in Scottsdale, we serve the entire Phoenix Metropolitan Area. Make an appointment today and be more beautiful and be free from skin cancers.
Call (602) 754-6075 or drop us a line here. Better yet, feel free to visit our office during normal business hours at 7301 East 2nd Street Suite 310, Scottsdale, AZ 85251 We would love to see you!
