What Skin Cancer & Precancerous Lesions Look Like

Skin cancer and precancerous lesions often appear as bumps, patches or spots that vary in colour, size and texture. There are mainly three types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Melanoma is considered one of the most dangerous types and can be treated if detected at an early stage. Although it can be treated if detected early, the chances of survival decrease.

In this guide, learn about basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma’s lesions. Look how they can look like.

Different Precancerous Lesions: Look For A Dermatologist For Skin Cancer Treatment

A dermatologist is who you need to visit for diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. A dermatologist for skin cancer is the first to consult when you detect precancerous lesions. Here you understand the different precancerous lesions:

Actinic Cheilitis

Actinic cheilitis is a precancerous lesion that develops on the lips due to long-term exposure to the sun. It is also known as sailor lip or farmer’s lip. The symptoms might include rough, scaly and discoloured patches on the lips. White patches on the lips, which have a sandpaper-like texture, are a sign that you must visit for a check-up.

Tenderness and pain when touched the rough patches can be a priority of the visit. If you have thin or fragile lips, then book an appointment today with the dermatologist. The risk factors involve fair skin, working outside in the sun, living in places with strong UV rays and tobacco use.

The treatment options include cryotherapy, topical chemotherapy and laser surgery. Actinic cheilitis can develop into squamous cell carcinoma which is a high-risk form os skin cancer. Early detection and treatment is important.

Cutaneous Horns

This is a rare, conical and keratinous skin tumour that looks like an animal horn, wood or coral. It is also known as devil’s horn. It usually appears as gray or yellow and can be several centimeters in size. It may appear as large as an animal horn.

It is most common in people with light skin and older than 50, and most commonly arises from sun-exposed skin. The symptoms can involve pain, increase in the size of the horn, redness, purple or brown skin at the base of the horn and hardening or puckering of the surrounding skin.

Treatment surgery to remove the growth, scraping and burning the growth, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and topical medicine to stimulate the immune system.

Actinic Keratosis (AK)

AK is a precancerous lesion that appears as a rough, scaly patch or bumps. You may also call it solar keratosis or senile keratosis. The cause behind this precancerous lesion is long-term exposure to the UV light from the sun.

Talking about the symptoms of the actinic keratosis, dry scaly skin, skin that feels rough or raw, sensitivity, pain, itchiness and skin that is inflamed are some of the most common symptoms seen in AK.

Risk factors can include the history of unprotected UV exposure, living in a place located in a sunny location and having a weak immune system. The treatment of AK can be done by a dermatologist, including cryotherapy, topical medication, laser therapy and photodynamic therapy.

Minimise sun exposure and wear sunscreen whenever stepping out in the sun. Regularly check your skin for new, changing or unusual spots or lesions.

How To Put Self-Examination For Skin Cancer?

Visiting an expert is a must, but you can first put self-examination. It is not always like visiting a dermatologist once a week or month, so simply conduct a test at home and check for the skin cancer on your own. Here is what you need to know about self-examination:

• Underess and make sure you have a good light in the room.
• Check your face, ears, neck, chest and belly.
• Take help of someone to check back, scalp and areas out of your reach.
• Check legs including the bottoms of the feet, calves and the backs of thighs.
• Check hands properly, including between the two fingers. Use a comb or hair dryer to part your hair so that you can get a clear view of your scalp.

What To Look For?

Here is what you need to look for while checking for signs and symptoms of skin cancer:

• Any new or unusual sores or spots on your skin.
• Any spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab or bleed.
• A sore that does not heal.
• A mole or skin sore that changes in shape, size, color, or texture.

Visit to dermatologist for regular check-up as they can detect and treat the disease as early as possible.