More than 9,500 people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer every day. At Fiore Dermatology in San Carlos, California, the cosmetic and medical dermatology experts screen or treat you for skin cancer to reduce the risk of severe complications. Call the office to schedule a skin cancer screening today!

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a common type of cancer that causes abnormal skin cells to replicate. When left untreated, skin cancer can spread to other parts of your body, and some skin cancers are even deadly. That’s why early skin cancer detection and treatment are vital.

What are the common types of skin cancer?

The three main types of skin cancer include:

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is a form of skin cancer that may develop because of sun exposure. When left untreated, it can be life-threatening.

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer that often appears in sun-exposed areas of your skin. While not life-threatening, basal cell carcinoma can be disfiguring when detected in the later stages.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a deadly form of skin cancer that can appear anywhere on your body. It may look like dark dots, new moles, or changes in the appearance of skin lesions.

What are the signs of skin cancer?

Some of the common signs of skin cancer include:

• Skin discoloration
• New or changing skin lesions
• Crusting, bleeding, or scabbing lesions
• Lump or bumps
• Moles containing more than one color
• Lesions with irregular borders

At the first sign of possible skin cancer, see your Fiore Dermatology provider for a skin cancer evaluation.

How does my provider detect skin cancer?

A Fiore Dermatology specialist diagnoses skin cancer after reviewing your symptoms, examining your skin, and asking about potential skin changes. They may remove a small portion of your skin to use for lab analysis or examine your skin under a microscope.

How is skin cancer treated?

Depending on the type of skin cancer you have, your dermatology specialist may recommend:

• Excisional skin surgery
• Freezing
• Mohs surgery
• Electric currents
• Radiation therapy 
• Chemotherapy
• Laser treatments
• Biological therapy

Mohs surgery is a common skin cancer treatment in which your surgeon removes cancerous tissues, one layer at a time until all of the cancer is gone.

You might need more than one type of skin cancer treatment to make sure it doesn’t spread to other areas of your body.

To get screened or treated for skin cancer at Fiore Dermatology, schedule an appointment by phone today.