C&E – this is a two-step procedure in which a curette (sharp-tipped instrument) is used to remove the more friable cancer tissue from normal tissue and bleeding is controlled by an electrical current or by a chemical agent.  This cycle is repeated two to four times. Nodular and superficial BCC and non-invasive SCC can usually be treated effectively with C&E. It is a low risk procedure.

Cryosurgery – liquid nitrogen is used at very low temperatures ( below -50°C)  to freeze the skin and induce necrosis of the skin in the treated area. This cycle is repeated two or three times.  It is a low risk and effective treatment for primary superficial and nodular BCC, or superficial SCC.  The treatment will result in an open wound that usually would take a few months to heal.

Radiation – this treatment has a reported cure rate of 89 to 95 percent.  It is useful for the older people who cannot tolerate surgery, for medium sized tumors and for lesions that are too inaccessible to be removed surgically.  Radiation is particularly useful for lesions on or near the face.

Chemotherapy – involving the use of chemotherapeutic agents like 5-FU or Imiquimod cream. The substance is applied directly to the skin twice a day for four weeks or more.  It works by causing an inflammatory reaction. Though it is easy to use, there are concerns on possible skin irritation and pigmentation changes.

Surgery – excision is a surgical procedure that removes the entire lesion with an appropriate margin, usually 3-5mm, of clinically normal tissue.  The resulting defect is then repaired with sutures.

Mohs Micrographic surgery – this involves removing successive horizontal layers of the skin cancer with a small margin (1-2mm) of surrounding tissue.  Each layer is sent for pathological examination.  The result of microscopic examinations would decide if further layer removal is required.  Because this method has the highest cure rate of 97-99 percent, it is recommended for all tumors in the high-risk areas of the face.

Laser therapy – this involves the use of carbon dioxide laser as a cutting instrument much like a scalpel.

Sunblock or sunscreen has proved to be effective and is a convenient choice to use. However, there are some information that people should bear in mind in selecting these products and using them.

SPF – SPF stands for sun protection factor. It indicates the number of times your original time (for reddening your skin) can be extended. For instance, an SPF of 15 means that it would take 15 times longer to redden than without the sunscreen.  For normal commuting and daily wear, a SPF of at least 15 is recommended.

Broad spectrum protection – preferably look for the ones that offer the broad spectrum protection, that is, with both UVA and UVB protection.

Water-resistant – you will get even more protection from a product that is labeled “water-proof”.  The water-resistant products generally afford full protection for forty minutes in water and also provide better protection even if you sweat heavily.

Allergic Reaction – try to stay away from products containing the chemical like PABA as some people could develop an allergic reaction to it.

Useful active ingredients – look for sunscreens that contain titanium dioxide, micronized zinc oxide or avobenzone.   Zinc oxide is effective in blocking both UVA and UVB rays.

Reapply regularly – depending on the SPF values, sunscreen should be reapplied at appropriate intervals.  This should be done even more often if you are sweating or swimming or in an environment that intensifies the reflection of the sun’s rays.  A good example o the latter would be winter sports.

AK usually appears as a small crusty, scaly, or crumbly bump on the skin surface.  It can be hard to locate because it may be light or dark, tan, pink, red, or a combination of the above.  It can even be in the same color as the skin.  Because the scale or crust is dry and rough, in which case spotting them through touch is quite effective.

Occasionally, you might find AK bleeding, or having surrounding skin swollen with different shades of red.

They generally grow very slowly into a size of about a quarter inch in length. The usual places that they would appear include the face, lips, ears, scalp, neck, backs of the hands and forearms, shoulders, and back.  The one found on the lips, called actinic cheilitis, could evolve into a type of squamous cell skin cancer that can spread rapidly to other parts of the body.

Sun damage remains the key factor giving rise to AK’s.

The AK lesions can be eliminated quite easily if treated early.  It is safe as they haven’t developed into skin cancers yet.  However, if left untreated, about 10% may progress to squamous cell carcinoma.

Researchers have since found that tanning beds do produce UVB rays as well. Besides, UVA rays are not as safe as once thought. These rays can penetrate deeper into the skin and cause damages to the dermis, the true skin.

Articles from the Skin Cancer Foundation reveal that the high pressure sunlamps used in tanning salons emit doses of UVA as much as 12 times that of the sun. As a result, people frequent tanning salons are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. In terms of the risk of developing melanoma, it is almost twice as often as other people. For youth exposing to tanning beds, the likelihood of melanoma happening in the latter part of their life could be as high as 75%.

The idea of using tanning beds to create a safe “base tan” first before exposing to the natural sun has proved false as well. It does nothing to prevent sunburn.

Getting your tan by way of the machine or directly from the natural sun is equally dangerous. The more we know about these ultra-violet rays, the more we have to ask ourselves the question: is the tan worth the risk?

Metastasis is a key criterion for malignancy. When the cancerous tumor manages to penetrate from the epidermis layer into the dermis layer of the skin, it could spread out very fast, to lymph nodes, blood vessels, and so to distant sites inside the body.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma share many common characteristics. For instance, it is usually found in the sun-exposed areas of the body. The commonest sites would include the head, the nose, temples, rim of the ear and lip, as well as the side and back of the neck, and the dorsal surfaces of the hand and forearm. SCC also occurs in sites of previous burns, scars, or chronic ulcers; or on the mucous membranes of the mouth.

It would normally appear as a red, scaling, well-defined plaque and may gradually develop into an ulcer, a scaly crust, or a wartlike surface. Eventually, it can spread into the deeper or surrounding tissues. They may become itchy or painful, and the lesion may start to bleed or ulcerate.

Reoccurrence is quite common amongst people who have had their SCC removed before. Typically, a reoccurrence might happen in the first two years of the previous removal and is likely to appear in the same skin area as to the previous presentation.

Sunlight, X-ray exposure, arsenic ingestion, and occupational carcinogens are all key contributing factors to this skin cancer. As such, getting to know about these causes and building the knowledge of defence would surely be the most meaningful strategy.

1/ Ultra-violet rays from the sun – the two associated with skin cancer are UVA (ultra-violet A) and UVB (ultra-violet B) rays. UVB rays are the shorter-wave solar rays and are more unlikely to cause skin reddening and sunburn. UVA rays, however, would have more permanent damages to the skin as they penetrate much deeper to the skin. Latest studies show that UVA not only increases UVB’s cancer-causing effects, but may also directly cause some skin cancers, including melanomas.

2/ Family History – recent research confirms that the risk of melanoma is more than double in people with a family history of skin cancer. Though having someone in the family with skin cancer does not necessarily mean that you will get it too, it certainly warrants some extra attention because of the higher risk factor.

3/ Chemical Exposure – some chemicals might cause harm when they come into contact with your skin. Insecticides, for instance, often contain substances like arsenic that are dangerous to the skin. They can increase the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. Nevertheless, people working in environments in regular contact with chemicals and industrial materials (such as petroleum derivatives, arsenicals, and coal tar) are more likely to develop some type of skin cancer.

4/ Smoking — whilst it is common knowledge that smoking is linked to other types of cancer such as mouth and lung cancers, the tobacco used in cigarettes etc could be a cause to developing skin cancer too.

5/ Radiation Exposure – there are concerns that radiation therapy that some children undergo for other cancer treatments may increase the risk of developing a non-melanoma skin cancer. Also, people working with X-rays, including medical, nursing and radiographic personnels are subject to higher risks.

6/ Skin Condition and Geography – certain skin conditions can increase a person’s risk of developing skin cancer. For instance, people with light to fair skin living in tropical or subtropical climates, such as the American Southwest, equatorial Africa, Hawaii, and Australia, generally have very high incidences of skin cancer. Serious injuries to the skin, if not healed in time, could raise the chance for non-melanoma skin cancer. Likewise for scars from very bad burns.

7/ Weak Immune System – the immune system is part of the body’s defense against bacteria and cancerous formations. When the immune system is strong, the antibodies and immune cells are better able to do their job in neutralizing the free radicals and getting rid of the harmful elements from the body. Conversely, a weak immune system would open up a lot of possibilities as cancerous cells could spread out fast and divide in ways that are hard to predict.

Though it is generally found in Caucasian people, it has also been diagnosed in people with more pigmentation, including those of Asian or Mediterranean decent.

BCC develops from the basal cell layer of the epidermis. It usually grows very slowly and remains unchanged for years. It is labeled as non-melanoma because it rarely metastasizes or spreads to other parts of the body. However, if left untreated, all BCC can bleed or ulcerate.

They might appear as a small, shiny bump on the skin, in places that are often exposed to the sun, for instance, on the head, neck, arms, hands, and face.

Statistics show that there is a tendency of re-occurrence. 20 percent of people with a single BCC could develop a second one at another site within year, and 50 percent within three years. If there are two BCC at presentation, there is a 40 percent chance of developing a new one within a year.

Given this rate of re-occurrence, patients are advised to see their doctor twice a year for the first three years after treatment of the skin cancer, and then followed by yearly visits.