SKIN DEEP
Recognizing skin cancers
Posted on Tue, Jul. 08, 2008
By DR. LESLIE BAUMANN
Q:How can I tell the difference between a cancerous skin mark and a harmless mole?
A: In my last column, I discussed the most common warning signs of melanoma, cancer of the cells that produce skin's pigment. But there is another type of skin cancer called carcinoma, or cancer of skin cells themselves.
There are two main types of carcinoma:
• Basal cell carcinoma manifests as bumps that are white and shiny, and may resemble a pearl. They can have raised borders with depressed centers and they may look like craters. They may also have tiny blood vessels around their borders.
• Squamous cell carcinoma typically looks like a red scab -- but unlike a scab, it doesn't heal. These patches may also be covered by a hard white scale.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: When it comes to skin cancer, paying close attention to your skin is crucial. If you know where all your skin's marks are, you're more likely to notice any rapid changes. But you also shouldn't -- and don't need to -- go it alone. Dermatologists are trained to spot worrisome marks that you might miss for months, and yearly skin exams are typically covered by insurance.
On a final note, some of you may be thinking: ''I don't need to worry about this -- I never sit out in the sun.'' But non-melanoma skin cancers are actually more often caused by cumulative sun exposure than by a major sunburn or two. Everyone should perform frequent skin checks!
Dr. Leslie Baumann is a board-certified dermatologist at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine. E-mail: drb@drbaumann.com
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