Warning Signs Of Basal Cell Carcinoma That You Could Mistake As Harmless
Warning sign: A pink or reddish growth that dips in the centerCan be mistaken for: A skin injury or acne scar
A pink or reddish growth that dips in the center
The BCC on this patients cheek could be mistaken for a minor skin injury.
Warning sign: A growth or scaly patch of skin on or near the earCan be mistaken for: Scaly, dry skin, minor injury, or scar
A growth or scaly patch of skin on or near the ear
BCC often develops on or near an ear, and this one could be mistaken for a minor skin injury.
Warning sign: A sore that doesn’t heal and may bleed, ooze, or crust overCan be mistaken for: Sore or pimple
A sore that doesn’t heal, or heals and returns
This patient mistook the BCC on his nose for a non-healing pimple.
Warning sign: A scaly, slightly raised patch of irritated skin, which could be red, pink, or another colorCan be mistaken for: Dry, irritated skin, especially if it’s red or pink
A scaly, slightly raised patch of irritated skin
This BCC could be mistaken for a patch of dry, irritated skin.
Warning sign: A round growth that may be pink, red, brown, black, tan, or the same color as your skinCan be mistaken for: A mole, wart, or other harmless growth.
A round growth that may be same color as your skin
Would you recognize this as a skin cancer, or would you dismiss it as a harmless growth on your face?
Sun Damaged Skin Solar Elastosis
Online dermatologist questionI have had white spots progressively get worse mostly on my jaw line on both sides. I am 40 use sunscreen daily and dont tan. I have gone to the derm about this before and they treated it like it was a fungal skin issue but got no results. I am thinking I need laser treatment and would like guidance on what would be the best type for me.
Online dermatologist answerBased on the images and information provided, this is most likely SOLAR ELASTOSIS . The skin tends to bruise easier,heal slower and/or have lighter areas of pigmentation. You should try to avoid trauma to the skin and make sure to wear sunscreen SPF 30 or greater with UVA and UVB protection every day.This could also be PITYRIASIS ALBA . Over the counter hydrocortisone cream used twice daily for 10-14 days can help PITYRASIS ALBA. If no improvement within one month after doing the above measures, you should see a dermatologist for a possible biopsy and treatment.
White spots/patches on the back. Looks like decolorization.
What Is This White Bump On My Face
You have a little white bump on your face. What is it? There are many reasons why people get white bumps on their skin. Most of them are simple, like a clogged pore. Others, like skin cancer, can be more complicated and concerning.
This article looks at common and not-so-common causes of white bumps on the face and other areas of skin, how you can identify them, and how to get rid of them.
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What Does Melanoma Look Like
If an existing mole changes shape, color , size, or feel , it may be melanoma. Same is true if a new mole-like spot suddenly appears. Melanoma can show up anywhere, but most often develops on the chest and back and on the legs . Acral melanoma, a subtype of melanoma, occurs on palms, soles, and beneath the fingernails and toenails, says Dr. Brady. This is the most common type of melanoma among darker-pigmented individuals. It often appears as a black, brown, or blue patch. The area may itch, be painful, ulcerate, or even bleed, says Dr. Harvey.
Tips For Screening Moles For Cancer
Examine your skin on a regular basis. A common location for melanoma in men is on the back, and in women, the lower leg. But check your entire body for moles or suspicious spots once a month. Start at your head and work your way down. Check the “hidden” areas: between fingers and toes, the groin, soles of the feet, the backs of the knees. Check your scalp and neck for moles. Use a handheld mirror or ask a family member to help you look at these areas. Be especially suspicious of a new mole. Take a photo of moles and date it to help you monitor them for change. Pay special attention to moles if you’re a teen, pregnant, or going through menopause, times when your hormones may be surging.
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Skin Cancer Of The Head And Neck Treatment
Many early-stage small basal cell cancers or squamous cell cancers can be removed by Mohs surgery, a technique that spares normal tissue through repeated intraoperative margin testing, removing only the cancer and leaving adjacent normal tissue. Tumors with nerve involvement, lymph node involvement or of a large size are not suitable for Mohs surgery. They require a multimodality approach to treatment, with formal surgical resection and adjuvant radiation or chemotherapy.
Melanoma is more likely to spread, and aggressive surgical resection with wide margins is required, in addition to radiation and/or chemotherapy.
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Abcde Melanoma Detection Guide
A is for Asymmetry
Look for spots that lack symmetry. That is, if a line was drawn through the middle, the two sides would not match up.
B is for Border
A spot with a spreading or irregular edge .
C is for Colour
Blotchy spots with a number of colours such as black, blue, red, white and/or grey.
D is for Diameter
Look for spots that are getting bigger.
E is for Evolving
Spots that are changing and growing.
These are some changes to look out for when checking your skin for signs of any cancer:
- New moles.
- Moles that increases in size.
- An outline of a mole that becomes notched.
- A spot that changes colour from brown to black or is varied.
- A spot that becomes raised or develops a lump within it.
- The surface of a mole becoming rough, scaly or ulcerated.
- Moles that itch or tingle.
- Moles that bleed or weep.
- Spots that look different from the others.
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Actinic Keratosis Signs And Symptoms
Many people have actinic keratosis , also called solar keratosis, on their skin. It shows that youâve had enough sun to develop skin cancer, and it is considered a precursor of cancer, or a precancerous condition.
Usually AK shows up on the parts of your body that have received the most lifetime sun exposure, like the face, ears, scalp, neck, backs of the hands, forearms, shoulders and lips.
Some of the same treatments used for nonmelanoma skin cancers are used for AK to ensure it does not develop into a cancerous lesion.
Appearance
This abnormality develops slowly. The lesions are usually small, about an eighth of an inch to a quarter of an inch in size. You may see a few at a time. They can disappear and later return.
- AK is a scaly or crusty bump on the skinâs surface and is usually dry and rough. It can be flat. An actinic keratosis is often noticed more by touch than sight.
- It may be the same color as your skin, or it may be light, dark, tan, pink, red or a combination of colors.
- It can itch or produce a prickling or tender sensation.
- These skin abnormalities can become inflamed and be encircled with redness. Rarely, they bleed.
What Does Squamous Cell Carcinoma Look Like
Like basal cell carcinoma, SCC is most likely to appear on sun-exposed areas of the body, such as the face, lips, ears, scalp, shoulders, neck, hands, and forearms. But it can occur in other areas, like the genitals, too, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Look for scaly red patches wart-like growths raised bumps with a central depression or open sores that crust over, itch, or bleed. For darker skinned individuals, SCC is still scaly, but often brown or black in color, notes Dr. Harvey.
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Causes Of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is caused by the mutation in the DNA of skin cells. But what is causing that mutation? In most cases, the answer is UV exposure from the sun. Both normal day-to-day exposure when outside, and also from actively trying to tan. But often appears in places that is usually hidden from direct sunlight, so there are other factors in play.
Studies have shown that exposure to toxics can be a cause, for example from the environment that you live in. Also, genetics can be a cause of skin cancer.
Causes Of White Spots On Skin
White marks on the skin can develop due to some factors or reasons. The types of white spot that can appear on your skin are determined by its causal agent. It is important to learn about the causes of white dots on the skin which might help you to know how to prevent and escape skin problems that are associated with white spots.
The possible cause of white spot or patches on skin includes:
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How To Get Rid Of White Spots On Lips Tips
img source: medicalnewstoday.com
While looking at each cause, we covered the various white spots on lips cure and treatments required. We are going to mention a few general tips that can help you if you often get spots on your lips.
- To begin with, do not pick your bump or flat white spots on your lips. Always resist the urge to do so as this will increase the chances of getting an infection.
- Rinse your lip with warm salty water . Swish the mixture in your mouth before spitting it out.
- Book an appointment with your doctor if the spots bleed, cause neck and jaw swelling, make your tongue numb, you have trouble swallowing, you have fever, sore throat or you feel like something is caught on your throat.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer that can show up on the skin in many ways. Also known as BCC, this skin cancer tends to grow slowly and can be mistaken for a harmless pimple, scar, or sore.
Common signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma
This skin cancer often develops on the head or neck and looks like a shiny, raised, and round growth.
To help you spot BCC before it grows deep into your skin, dermatologists share these 7 warning signs that could be easily missed.
If you find any of the following signs on your skin, see a board-certified dermatologist.
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Symptom: Small White Spots On Nails
Many people think the spots are related to a vitamin deficiency, but thats a myth, Rich said. The condition, called punctate leukonychia, is actually due to some kind of minor trauma when the nail is being formed.
Course of action: Wait the spots will vanish as the nails grow out. You’ll see them for a while because it takes about six months to grow a new fingernail from start to finish.
Very yellow nails that are thick and slow growing may be associated with lung problems, Rich noted. If you have yellow nail syndrome, you may also experience excessively curved nails and see them separate from the nail bed.
Course of action: See your doctor.
Small White Spots On Lips Or Little White Dots On Lips
Whereas some white spots on your lips could be bigger and patchy especially those caused by oral cancer, oral thrush or vitiligo, at times you can have tiny white dots on lips. These dots can be on the corners of lips, along your lip line, under your lip skin, on your lower, upper or anywhere on your lips.
Furthermore, they could be bump like or flat, clustered or singly existing and tend to be more visible when you stretch your lips.
If you have little white spots on lips that are painless, they are likely to be milia, fordyce spots or HPV .
On the other hands, painful, tingling, sore or painful small white dot on lip, it could be herpes especially if they are clustered specks that form fluid-filled blisters.
Slightly bigger white spots would be lip pimples, fibromas or mucous cysts or canker sores .
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Blemishes Caused By Sun Exposure
Sometimes people with light or olive skins get tanned when they go to the beach or pool and, after a few days, the skin peels, and small white patches appear, especially on the arms, chest and back.
What to do: It is important to moisturize your skin daily, and to always put sunscreen before going in the sun because the skin is thinner and more sensitive and has a higher risk of being sunburnt. Ideally, you should moisturize your skin very well about 10 days before going to the beach and eat foods high in vitamin A such as carrots, tomatoes, boiled eggs, papaya and mangos, because the more hydrated the skin is, the lower the risk of flaking and developing blemishes.
What Are White Patches
White patches on your skin are a common type of depigmented associated with an infection, , or autoimmune disorder. Rarely, skin cancers and precancerous changes can cause white patches on the skin, but these serious causes are much less common.
One common cause of white spots, or hypopigmentation, is a fungal infection of the skin known as tinea versicolor. This is not contagious and can be treated easily with over-the-counter medications. versicolor is sometimes associated with other symptoms, such as itching or dryness on or around the white patches.
Another important cause of white patches on the skin is vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder that leads to the destruction of melanocytes, the cells that make the pigment that gives your skin color. White patches from vitiligo may come and go or they may be permanent. Vitiligo is most commonly only a cosmetic issue, and a variety of medicines and some procedures can help to minimize the appearance of the white patches.
A third important cause of white patches on the skin is eczema. is an inflammatory skin condition caused by a hypersensitivity or allergy and is often associated with . Eczema usually results in scaling and itching of the skin, sometimes with peeling or oozing, but it can also lead to the formation of white patches.
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There Seems To Be Something About Vitiligo That Protects Skin From Skin Cancer
A study published in 2013 in The British Journal of Dermatology surveyed 1,307 people with nonsegmental vitiligo, meaning the vitiligo patches appear on both sides of the body. The researchers found that these people had a threefold lower probability of developing the deadly skin cancer melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer than their partners, who did not have vitiligo and served as the control group for the study. This data suggests that there may be something about vitiligo that protects the skin from skin cancer.
Another study published in 2018 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology reached a similar conclusion. The researchers used data from nearly 300,000 people who have used the genetic testing service 23andMe, plus 3,000 other people from a cancer center. The researchers compared genes that were associated with vitiligo with genes associated with skin cancer. They ultimately found an inverse relationship between the risk of vitiligo and the risk of three different types of skin cancer: melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma.
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Why might having vitiligo lower the risk of skin cancer? One theory is that the genes that make someone susceptible to developing vitiligo also lower their risk of developing malignant melanoma. Dr. Rodrigues says that people with vitiligo exhibit a little alteration in these genes, and that’s what provides some protection against skin cancer.
Symptom: Ridges On Nails
Vertical lines on nails or ridges are common as you get older. Most people eventually get them.
Theyre kind of like wrinkles in the nail, Rich said. She discourages patients from buffing or filing the ridges smooth because that thins the nail.
Deep horizontal ridges or depressions, known as Beaus lines, are more alarming. They indicate something caused the nail to stop growing temporarily. Triggers can include high fever, chemotherapy, a serious illness, major surgery, blood transfusion, a car accident or any major stress to your system, Rich noted. You can have a series of parallel Beaus lines that create the effect of rippled nails or bumpy nails if you experienced multiple episodes of stress.
Course of action: If you cant link your deep horizontal ridges to a specific episode in your life, ask your doctor what the cause could be.
Vertical ridges are usually just a part of aging. If you want to cover them up, dont buff, but use a ridge filler.
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White Spots On Skin Fungus
Fungal infection or yeast attack on the surface of the skin can result in creamy patches or spots. Tinea versicolor is an example of yeast infection that is characterized by dry or scaly itchy skin with white patches or dots.
Athletes foot is also a fungal infection that can affect the lower feet and lead to either white or red spots. Ringworms are large patches of yeast infection that commonly appear on the scalp on young children. These marks can also show up on other parts of your body.
Generally, the growth of fungus on the skin is encouraged by the wet environment, poor body hygiene, use of oily cosmetic products and weakened body immune system.