Many dermatology patients will undergo a skin biopsy at some point during their lives, especially if they have a new lesion that could potentially be a skin cancer. During a biopsy, a sample of body tissue is taken so that a type of doctor, known as a pathologist, can examine the individual cells in the tissue under a microscope in order to make a more definitive diagnosis.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), also known as basal cell epithelioma, is the most common form of skin cancer. There are several sub-types of BCC including nodular BCC, infiltrating BCC, and superficial BCC. All types of BCC usually occur on sun-damaged skin but can occur anywhere on the body (except the palms and soles). More than 99% of people with BCC are white, and 95% are between the ages of 40 and 80. To learn more about BCC click, here.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer annually, so it is appropriate that we continue to identify the best treatments possible. But when it comes to actually preventing skin cancer, we mostly know only about the basic rules – use sunscreen, stay out of the sun, wear long-sleeved shirts and wide-brimmed hats, etc.  But dermatologists can offer effective topical skin cancer preventives that find and destroy precancerous cells, stopping the disease in its tracks before it takes hold. These noninvasive therapies not only prevent potential cancers from developing, they may also soften lines and wrinkles at the same time. 

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the greatest cause of the most common skin cancers. UV radiation, in the form of light, can come either from the sun or from indoor tanning beds. Basal cell and squamous cell cancers, by far the most common types of skin cancer, are directly related to the total dose of UV light that the skin receives over a lifetime of exposure.

Actinic keratoses (AKs), also known as solar keratoses, are small rough or scaly areas of skin due to damage from sun exposure. Some AKs can turn into squamous cell skin cancer, so it is important to perform self-examinations often and catch them early. Spots usually appear in those who are older (over 50), but they can start appearing in younger adults who have had a lot of sun exposure. Darker-skinned individuals are rarely affected. To learn more about AKs, click here.

As daylight hours get shorter, outdoor activities are winding down and you spend less time in the sun.  You may work long hours indoors with hardly any time to step outside for a few minutes of sunshine.  So is wearing sunscreen necessary?  A recent study argues it might be … at least if you want to slow skin aging. Seasonal Insights from Dr. Belinda Tan

Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers in the US, and more than one million people are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. That’s a staggering number, and that’s why preventing skin cancer is a huge health care priority. And prevent it we can – by making new habits and carefully monitoring our skin. Prevention starts with awareness, and this month, you’ll learn what you need to know about skin cancer from our team of experts, who are experienced and knowledgeable dermatologists.

Diagnosis Synopsis Merkel cell carcinomas (cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinomas) are rare skin malignancies that demonstrate both neuroendocrine and epithelial differentiation. They are so named for their histological similarity to normal Merkel cells of the skin. They most frequently occur on the head and neck of the elderly but can also be seen elsewhere on the body. White individuals have 20 times the risk of blacks for developing Merkel cell carcinoma; it is, therefore, thought that UV radiation may play a role in the pathogenesis.

Sunscreens, which come in all shapes and sizes, are anything that stops the skin from absorbing ultraviolet (UV) rays. So clothing, hats, sunglasses, and physical and chemical agents (ie, lotions, creams, pastes, and gels) are all sunscreens.

In March of this year, the Indoor Tanning Association (ITA) purchased a full-page advertisement in The New York Times and released a television ad exhorting viewers to "go get a tan" because "your body will thank you," with images of indoor tanning beds - in use - flashing across the screen. A headline from one of their advertisements reads: "Tanning Causes Melanoma HYPE," and Sarah Longwell of the ITA claims that tanning is "just what the doctor ordered.

There are two types of moles, typical and atypical. Both require monitoring, especially when there is a history of extreme sun exposure.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. Darker-skinned people are much less likely to develop SCC, though it is the most common form of skin cancer in people of African and Asian descent. SCC can cause tissue destruction or it may spread internally, causing serious health problems and even death if neglected. To learn more about SCC, click here.

Spring and summer are upon us and – with the lessons learned last summer long forgotten – you’re getting ready to head back to the beach. Instantly, you think before putting that sunscreen on that maybe if you just let your skin get a little bit tanned at the beginning of the summer, then you can avoid getting those painful pink burns and you can avoid smearing on gobs of sunscreen for the rest of the summer. Of all the stories I hear, this is the one that really troubles me the most. “Doc, I’m going to the tanning booth to get my base tan before summer starts,” or “But Doc, I burn badly once at the start of the season, but then I’m good to go until the fall.”

The youngest legal age for using tanning beds has gone up from 14 to 18 years in California after Governor Jerry Brown signed a new bill into law. Beforehand, those aged between 14 and 18 were allowed to use tanning salon services if they had permission from their parents - not any more. For the first time anywhere in the USA, anybody under the age of 18 years is will be banned from using ultraviolet tanning beds and devices in commercial premises in the state of California. The new law (SB 746) will go into effect on the first day of 2012...

Q: What does a dermatologist look for in determining if a lesion is cancerous? How is it confirmed?

Personal account by Kierna Terrisse The first time I noticed the mole on my fiancé Eric’s upper arm, we were living in New York City. It was only a mole, so we ignored it. Three years later we were celebrating our honeymoon when I noticed the mole appeared more distinct. It looked strange, but still, neither of us gave it much attention. At the time I didn’t realize something so simple and harmless looking could kill you. If I knew then what I know now, things might have turned out much differently.

The weather outside maybe frightful but having your skin unprotected would not be delightful. The ultraviolet rays from the sun are just as harmful now as they are on the hottest day of summer. Whether you are traveling to a tropical location to get away from the snow, or you are a cold-weather-activity enthusiast, always remember to use sunscreen. One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. Protecting your skin year-round could decrease your chances of developing skin cancer.

Scientists at King's College London believe that a pill that can protect humans from damaging ultraviolet radiation is about five years away.  Tropical coral found on Australia's Great Barrier Reef contains natural UV blockers.  Researchers are trying to unravel the biochemical secrets of the chemicals present in the coral by collecting samples during night dives. 

Question: Is it bad to treat itchy skin with hydrocortisone, because it merely treats the itch (if even that) and not the underlying cause?

I've never had a skin cancer, but I've had a lot of sun damage and burns in the past. Should I see a dermatologist?

Which state has the highest per capita prevalence of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer? A good guess may be Florida or the sun-drenched states of the Southwest, but it’s actually Oregon. Even in a state with months of overcast skies and drizzle, skin cancer is a pervasive and potentially deadly disease.

There has been extensive media coverage of recent studies linking vitamin D deficiencies to many common conditions and diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, elevated blood pressure, infection, and cardiovascular and autoimmune disorders. The principal source of the vitamin is unprotected exposure of the skin to the sun’s UVB rays – the kind that also cause sunburn, premature aging of the skin, and skin cancer.

Are you aware the U.S. is experiencing a skin cancer epidemic? The Skin Cancer Foundation points out that treatment for nonmelanoma skin cancer (squamous and basal cell carcinoma) increased by 77% between the years 1992 and 2006. Ninety percent of these nonmelanoma cancers are due to sun exposure, which means more people than ever before are developing nonmelanoma skin cancer on body parts that tend to be most exposed to the sun: the face, neck, hands, and feet. Scarring and skin tissue removal are huge concerns to patients who are facing cancer surgery on these areas. Fortunately, Mohs surgery – or simply “Mohs” – offers an alternative to traditional surgery.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer found in humans, and greater than half of all new cancers diagnosed are skin cancers. Basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are respectively the first and second most common forms of skin cancer, and nearly half of all Americans who live to age 65 will be diagnosed with one of these types of cancer. These common cancers are usually found in the most sun-exposed parts of the body, appearing in the skin’s top layer as a scaly area or bump that doesn’t heal. They can occasionally bleed. If detected and treated early, these cancers have a greater than 95% cure rate.

We all know that it is best to avoid sunburns by using sunscreens and staying out of the sun during peak hours – important considerations for long-term skin health and skin-cancer prevention. But sometimes things happen. A forgotten hat, thinking you’re protected from the sun’s rays under your beach umbrella, neglecting to reapply sunscreen after a swim – everyday experiences like these can lead to a nasty sunburn and the pain that comes along with the characteristically red skin. 

While you are having fun in the sun, don’t forget to protect your skin. Overexposure to sun is one of the leading causes of skin cancer. Make sure you keep that in mind while you are laying out by the side of the pool while sipping on your piña colada.

While spending more time outside in the summer months, we must be thoughtful about our skin. As our shield from environmental factors, our skin is exposed to greater potential harm when we are outdoors. And we must heed this rule, in particular: use sunscreen or sun block every day, rain or shine.

So summer is almost over… and we are left with glowing tans and bikini lines that we could show off for maybe a few weeks after that awesome beach trip.

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month. We should feel proud that as a society, we have learned so much over the last generation about preventing, diagnosing, and treating skin cancer. However, research reveals that skin cancer awareness and education specific for African American skin is lacking. Most people are under the wrong impression that African Americans can’t get skin cancer. The good news is that skin cancer in the African American population is relatively low. The bad news, however, is that most African Americans suffer a significant delay in the diagnosis of the disease which results in greater difficulty in treating and curing the disease.

I've been diagnosed with skin cancer by my dermatologist, but I've been told it's nothing to worry about. So why does it sound so bad when I hear about it in the news?

A multitude of over-the-counter skin care products – from sunscreens and moisturizers to cosmetics – tout vitamins and antioxidants as ingredients. What importance do vitamins play in skin and skin health, and do these products really work?

Spend a day at the beach or pool, and you can’t miss the pervasive and unmistakable smell of sunblock products wafting through the air. Shelves in drug stores and supermarkets are crowded with “new and improved” potions, lotions, gels, creams, wipes, and sprays. But using sunblock only on beach or pool days isn’t enough. Make it an everyday habit – and not just a quick smear on your nose in the morning.

The vigorous debate about health care reform is grabbing headlines, and I think the energetic conversation is an extremely important one to have. The bloated, inefficient way we deliver what we call health care is costly, and the results we get for the money are not satisfactory. So it is a good thing to shine a focused light of inquiry on ideas to improve the situation. But it could take a long time, and it won’t be easy.

As the globe shrinks via mobile technologies that allow people from many different cultures to interact instantaneously, the nuances of “ethnic diversity” become ever more apparent. Certainly, as we erase geographic borders, dermatologists are treating a much wider range of skin types. A loose terminology is developing in response to the changing patient mix.

Since anytime is a good time to talk about skin cancer, I thought this would be a great time to address some of the most common questions I am asked in the office regarding skin cancer. As the month progresses, I welcome more questions from our readers. In the meantime I hope you find these helpful.

As spring days lengthen, we’re called back outside for walks and hikes, swimming, and lounging. And while that laze in the sun can feel awfully good, it comes with a potentially steep price. This is a reminder that you must be diligent about protecting your skin from the most harmful rays of the sun. 

Everyone at one point or another has heard about ultraviolet (UV) rays and their potential to harm our skin. What are UV rays, and why should they concern you?

On the second day of Christmas, try not to give the gift of artificial sun. Instead, give your loved one a bronzer, which can be applied over sunscreen, for a sun-kissed look without the skin damage!

Spring Break is just around the corner – sunshine, here we come! Just know that the incidence of melanoma, which has nearly doubled in the last decade, is increasing at a rate faster than any other cancer. While most people take several measures to decrease the chance of getting skin cancer, some of these measures are ineffective. The following are common misconceptions of how to "prep" your skin for Spring Break.

A balanced diet is crucial for overall health. But do certain foods also have specific benefits for managing psoriasis? Many people with the disease believe so. However, research has yielded mixed results. Here’s what’s known about diet and psoriasis—and what’s not.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer annually. While we are learning a lot about the disease and how to treat it, the best course of action is preventing it. Many skin cancers develop from precancerous lesions called actinic keratoses, and dermatologists perform procedures and prescribe medications that “search and destroy” these lesions before they turn into cancer.

Beauty from inside out.  This concept holds true especially when we are talking skin health.  Stripping down to the basics, we have the option to direct our path towards healthy, youthful skin by making smart choices in the foods we nourish our bodies with.  We are living in an era where focus on wellness, anti-aging and nutrition has provided us access to a wide selection of supplements, vitamin-fortified topical products and treatments to give us that radiant, youthful skin. But which ones do we choose and what should we eat?

Since both moles and melanoma come from melanocytes, how can you tell the difference between a normal mole and a melanoma?

I can tell what my 3-year-old daughter has been snacking on because it’s visible all over her precious face. Would you be surprised to learn that the telltale signs of what you have been eating – or avoiding – are equally noticeable just by looking at your face? It’s true. Dermatologists explain that our skin is a window into our overall health and can show clues of what’s going on under the surface.

This morning I was doing my usual morning scan of CNN for interesting stories and found that they published a Q&A for "What can I eat to keep my skin looking younger?"  Below you will find an article written by Dr. Andrea Pennington that was originally posted on Skinsight on October 19, 2009 (link to original post and some great related topics are below). - Jeremy, VisualDx Staff Is Your Diet Aging You? I can tell what my 3-year-old daughter has been snacking on because it’s visible all over her precious face. Would you be surprised to learn that the telltale signs of what you have been eating – or avoiding – are equally noticeable just by looking at your face? It’s true. Dermatologists explain that our skin is a window into our overall health and can show clues of what’s going on under the surface.

It is difficult to determine where some medical myths originate from, but many are old wives’ tales passed on from generation to generation (Don’t touch that toad, you’ll get a wart!!). Here are some more common, often believed medical myths.

The summer is a great time to enjoy the sun and get some extra Vitamin D but it’s also a time when we sunburn the most.  Not only can we get sunburn from a being outside on a sunny or cloudy day but we can also get burned from tanning salons.  It’s the UV light from the sun and the tanning beds that gives us the tan and the burn. So what can we do about it?

As summer tans fade, we may see remnants on our skin of those happy hours spent in the sun. That is because the cells (melanocytes) that produce skin tone or pigment (melanin) are stimulated by sun exposure to produce more melanin. Excess melanin can cause visibly uneven areas of darker skin, a condition called hyperpigmentation. Conversely, other areas may lose melanin, resulting in pale or white spots, a condition called hypopigmentation. 

Even though summer is over, chances are your skin still shows evidence of summer fun. Autumn is the ideal time to do some housekeeping for your skin. In the spirit of the new school year, I am going to explain various in-office laser procedures capable of cleaning up the effects of summer sun. Think of this post as Laser Therapy 101.

November is healthy skin month. This is a good reminder that, even though we’re exposed to less sun now, it is still a great time to protect the appearance of and marvel at the uniqueness of our body’s largest organ. I’ve always admired the visual beauty of different skin tones. But understanding the science and purpose behind the various shades of our human tapestry expands my appreciation even more. This month, in a blog called Skin Tones, I share some insights on why we all have ”skin of color.”

  Dr. Sherrif Ibrahim It’s a common situation:  A woman somewhere between the ages of 40 and 70 comes to see me in the office during a break in her day and says, “I’m here! Make me look ten years younger!,” immediately followed by,  “buuuuut I have a dinner function tonight at 7, so nobody can know I’ve had anything done.”  This is a frustrating situation for procedural or cosmetic dermatologists, because what most people do not understand is that while there are many options for minimally invasive cosmetic interventions, the approach to skin rejuvenation is a process.  It is a combination of changes in behaviors and the way you treat your skin that each make incremental changes that ultimately, over the course of months or even years, contribute to that youthful appearance we do so desire. 

Did you know approximately 20 out of every 100,000 light-skinned people will develop malignant melanoma? With odds like that you might not think it’s worth it to give much thought to this cancer. But malignant melanoma is real. I was one of those 20 in 100,000. My story isn’t unusual. In fact, you may find that my sun exposure sounds a lot like yours. I’m in my 30s and spend most of my days inside at work. It’s been years since I spent my summers life guarding at the pool. Plus, as an adult I always wore sunscreen whenever I knew I was going to be outside for any length of time. So what happened? Why did I get malignant melanoma? And more important, how did I manage to detect it early when it really wasn’t a prominent concern on my health radar? 

In this two-part series we continue to cover various prescribed methods for evening out skin tones. Part 1 looked at hydroquinone and mequinol. Part 2 covers azelaic acid, corticosteroids, and more. In my practice, one of the most common concerns among people of color is uneven skin tone due to hyperpigmentation, or irregular darkening of the skin. Over the past few months, I’ve written a number of posts about hyperpigmentation concerns – including irregular patches, spots and scars – and which conditions warrant a consultation with a dermatologist. 

I've had "precancers" in the past, but never a skin cancer. What does this mean?

Mild forms of dark spots (hyperpigmentation) on the skin are not usually medically significant. Sunspots on the hands of a middle-aged, fair-skinned woman, for example, may be a cosmetic concern to her, but they are typically benign and in no way endanger her health. However, if these spots were to grow or get darker in a dramatic fashion, it would be best to consult a dermatologist to discern if they are in fact harmless or not.

Famous people are immune from jail time, financial woes, and thanks to graphic designers, bad looking skin. They may look like they have flawless skin, but underneath all those Photoshop layers are some common conditions that can affect anyone. Read on to see some notable people and airbrush-free images of skin diseases they have dealt with.

Before you head out to that sandy beach you may hit the gym or go on a diet to get your body bathing-suit ready. You may even consider going to a tanning salon to get a “base tan” before hitting the beach – this is NOT a good idea according to dermatologists!

Spring Break is supposed to be fun. For some, consumption of alcohol has become a part of the spring break tradition. But before you go bottoms up, know how alcohol can affect your skin, and what you can do to minimize those effects. Alcohol...

With summer well under way, whether you’re a routine sunscreen user or were driven to the drugstore by a bad sunburn, you’ve probably been overwhelmed by the enormous selection of sunscreen products on the shelves. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released new guidelines and regulations last month regarding sunscreen labeling that will be implemented before the next summer, so even if you are sticking to a familiar product, there’s room for confusion, as the packaging and labels may change to fit regulations. Here is a primer to help you navigate the products and choose which is best for you.

The tip of the iceberg… By the time you have made it to your Mohs surgery appointment, typically many prior steps have already happened. Perhaps you first noticed a bump or a spot that bled when you washed your face many months before. You thought it was a pimple or a blemish, but eventually, after several months, you realized this was not your average zit, and it was time to see a doctor.

Sunscreens are an important part of skin care. These products reduce the risk of skin cancers, protect from photoaging caused by the sun, and prevent sunburns.

Insights from Michael CardisVisualDx is a clinical decision support tool developed by the company that publishes Skinsight.com VisualDx is used by physicians, students, and medical staff around the world.