Your skin tells a story about everything from your diet to how much you laugh and how much time you spend in the sun. When the story leads to skin conditions like squamous cell carcinoma, you should see a doctor to discuss treatments to repair and restore your skin's health. See Dr. Rick Romagosa, Dr. Yvonne Romagosa, and Dr. Greg Barron at Romagosa Barron Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Stuart, FL, for help with a potential case of squamous cell carcinoma.
What to Know About Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Skin conditions like squamous cell carcinoma commonly manifest due to factors in the outside environment. The UV rays from the sun can be beneficial for vitamin D production but also can cause the development and replication of abnormal cells, causing skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer. It differs from basal cell carcinoma in that it affects the flat squamous cells in the skin's epidermis. Combined, basal cell and squamous carcinomas affect up to 6.1 million American patients each year, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Of those, 1.8 million cases are diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma.
Signs of Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma spots are usually red, scaly, raised, rough, thick growths with irregular borders that resemble warts. They are sometimes concave at the center. Though a doctor has to make the definitive diagnosis for squamous cell carcinoma with a biopsy, patients can often identify a potential issue using this general description and the ABCDEs of skin cancer:
- Asymmetrical (not the same on either side).
- Borders look irregular.
- Color is abnormal.
- Diameter is larger than 6 millimeters.
- Evolving appearance.
How Can a Dermatologist Treat Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
Removing the affected cells will likely resolve a case of this common form of skin cancer. The doctors at Romagosa Barron Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Stuart, FL, see 95 percent of the patients for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma and other skin cancers. The preferred treatment for many patients is Mohs micrographic surgery. The doctor uses a microscope to carefully remove all cancerous cells while preserving normal tissue, with a 99 percent effectiveness rate.
Diagnose and Treat Cancerous Skin Cells
Though many skin cancer cases can be mitigated with conservative treatment methods, they can progress to the point where your doctor must explore additional therapies. Get ahead of the issue today by calling (772) 220-3339 for a thorough skin exam and to learn more about squamous cell carcinoma at Romagosa Barron Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center in Stuart, FL. Dr. Rick Romagosa, Dr. Yvonne Romagosa, Dr. Greg Barron, and their friendly staff specialize in the early detection and treatment of skin cancer.
