Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can occur at any age and on any skin tone, so it’s important to take inventory of your risks and self-examine your skin routinely. Board-certified dermatologists Kunal Angra, MD, and Divya Angra, MD, and the team at Sapphire Dermatology offer professional full-body skin exams and skin cancer treatment at their offices in Silver Spring, Maryland, and Reston, Virginia. Call Sapphire Dermatology or schedule an appointment online for your next skin exam today.

What causes skin cancer?

There are multiple different types of skin cancer, but the most common types usually arise from ultraviolet (UV) light damage to your skin cells. UV light comes from the sun and is the same type of light that causes acute sunburns and blistering. Tanning beds also use UV light to change your skin’s tone. 

UV light damages the DNA within your skin cells, which causes them to grow and multiply abnormally. The result is skin cancer, which is most common in people with fair or freckled skin and who have light-colored eyes. Still, anyone can get skin cancer, and it’s important to be aware of your risks. 

To lower your skin cancer risks, you should minimize the time you spend in the sun. You should also invest in sunscreen and wear it daily, and avoid tanning beds altogether. 

How is skin cancer diagnosed?

Sapphire Dermatology offers full-body skin exams to screen for skin cancer. Even though skin cancer most commonly appears on areas of skin with high sun exposure like your arms, face, or scalp, it’s important to search for lesions all over your body and report any unusual lesions or changing moles. 

If the Sapphire Dermatology team detects any concerning lesions or suspects a mole might be cancerous, they may perform a biopsy. This involves removing a sample of tissue which they then send to a laboratory for further examination. 

Using the biopsy sample, the team can tell you if you have skin cancer and determine its type and stage. 

What are my treatment options for skin cancer?

Skin cancer treatment depends on the type and stage of skin cancer you have, as well as your own personal preferences and medical history. Early stages of skin cancer may not require more than surgery to remove the cancerous lesion itself, but later stages that have spread require more intensive care. 

Your skin cancer treatment might involve:

• Cryosurgery (freezing)
• Excision
• Mohs surgery
• Curettage and electrodessication
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Photodynamic therapy

The team at Sapphire Dermatology makes sure you’re well-informed during every step of skin cancer diagnosis and treatment.

To schedule your next full-body skin exam for skin cancer, call Sapphire Dermatology or book an appointment online at either office.