Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, more common than all other cancers combined. At least 1 in 5 people will get a skin cancer sometime during his or her life. When detected and treated early, most types of skin cancer have very high cure rates.
All of the providers at Moy-Fincher-Chipps are skin cancer experts. We specialize in skin cancer prevention, early detection, and highest cure-rate treatments. Our providers are all board certified, fellowship-trained Mohs Micrographic skin cancer surgeons.
A dysplastic nevus is a type of mole that looks unusual or atypical. Common or “typical” moles have round borders, are symmetric, uniform in color, and less than ¼ of an inch wide. Atypical moles may be several colors, from pink to brown to very dark brown. They may have irregular, asymmetric borders and are sometimes larger than ¼ of an inch wide. Dysplastic nevi may occur anywhere on the body but are most often found on skin that has had significant sun exposure.
Under the microscope, dysplastic nevi have disorganized architecture that ranges from mild to severe. Those that have more severe disorder have a small chance of turning into a melanoma skin cancer. For this reason, severely dysplastic nevi are most often removed. Having many dysplastic nevi, >10, is also a risk factor for melanoma. If you or an immediately family member has many dysplastic nevi, it is important that your dermatologist regularly examines all of your skin fully.
A pre-skin cancer is also known as an actinic or solar keratosis. They typically present as rough red spots that are easier to feel than see. Longstanding sun exposure is the biggest risk factor for the development of these pre-skin cancers. They are most often found on the face, ears, scalp, arms, and hands. Sometimes they are asymptomatic but occasionally they sting. Although pre-skin cancers may come and go, a small percentage of them go on to become skin cancers. For this reason, they are often treated with liquid nitrogen or topical medications, such as Efudex (5-fluorouracil) or Aldara (imiquimod). Both of these medications selectively destroy pre-skin cancer cells while sparing surrounding normal cells.
Do you have moles? They are extremely common, so having them is not unusual. Although most moles are harmless, some may become cancerous. For this reason, it’s crucial to keep an eye out for any changes. If you notice a new mole or one that has started to change, you need to see your dermatologist…
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. One in every five Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. While melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer, it’s the most dangerous. If caught and treated early, melanoma is almost always curable. Keep reading to learn more about melanoma and the…
Did you know that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S.? It’s estimated that nearly 9,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer daily. May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to know more about skin cancer. Keep reading to learn more…
Dr. Ronald Moy was recently featured in Shape Magazines’ article, ‘8 Ways to Get Sun Protection – Besides Wearing Sunscreen’. Here is an excerpt from the article, “Sun protection starts with sunscreen (every. single. day). Then a big hat. Extra points for UPF clothing. But what else can you do to safeguard your skin? Apparently,…
Prevention – June 2019 Dr. Lisa Chipps provides her expert opinion in this recent article. Here’s an excerpt, “The only thing worse than an incredibly painful sunburn? An incredibly painful, itchy sunburn. You can get itchy for all sorts of reasons, but it’s often just your body’s way of telling you that your skin or…
The word bacteria never conjures a warm fuzzy feeling. Indeed, bacteria is responsible for soured milk, strep throat and even deadly internal infections. But, when it comes to our skin, research has shown that bacteria plays an increasingly important role in protection. Normally, there are millions of micro-organisms growing on the skin, and just the…
