Skin Cancer

Roy Seidenberg, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist located in Murray Hill/Midtown East, New York, NY

An estimated one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, making it the most common form of cancer by far. The disease, which affects one in five people at some point in their lives, can develop on all skin types. Fortunately, with regular screenings, most cancers are caught early. Board-certified dermatologist Roy Seidenberg, MD provides comprehensive skin cancer screenings, diagnosis, and treatment options at his top-tier practice in Manhattan, New York City. Call or click to request an appointment for a skin cancer screening.

212-421-7546

Skin Cancer Q & A

What are the most common forms of skin cancer?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the two types of skin cancer that occur most often.

Basal cell carcinoma

BCC is by far the most common form of skin cancer — more than four million Americans are diagnosed with BCC every year.

Basal skin cells make up the deepest part of the epidermis, or your outermost layer of skin. A BCC is any abnormal, uncontrolled growth or lesion that starts within this layer.

Squamous cell carcinoma

SCC is the second most prevalent form of skin cancer, affecting more than a million Americans each year.

Squamous cells make up the uppermost part of your epidermis. SCC occurs when abnormal cells arise within that layer and begin to grow uncontrollably.

What causes BCC and SCC?

Both types of skin cancer can be caused by cumulative exposure to ultraviolet light over time, or by briefer instances of intense exposure. Both types can also be caused by tanning bed use.

Although BCC and SCC can appear virtually anywhere on your body, they mostly develop on the areas of skin that get the most sun exposure.

Why is melanoma so dangerous?

It’s fortunate that melanoma isn’t the most common form of skin cancer, because it is the most problematic: When melanoma goes undetected, it can spread quickly to other parts of your body.

Melanoma, which develops from unrepaired DNA damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet light, may appear suddenly or evolve from an existing mole. When this unrepaired damage prompts mutations in your skin cells, it causes them to multiply rapidly and form tumors.

Untreated melanoma can spread to your lymphatic system and even your internal organs, making it much more difficult to treat. Fortunately, melanomas that are diagnosed early are often very treatable.

What is an actinic keratosis?

An actinic keratosis (AK) is a rough skin patch that develops following years of sun exposure. They can be as small as a pinhead or as large as a quarter, and range in color from skin-toned to pink to reddish brown.

AKs, which affect about 58 million Americans, typically take years to develop, emerging slowly and causing no symptoms other than their appearance.

Although most of these growths remain benign, a small percentage progress to SCC. Because there’s no way to know which AKs will become cancerous, early diagnosis and treatment are important.

How can I detect skin cancer?

Skin cancer may take the form of a changing or otherwise unusual-looking mole; it may also appear as a dome-shaped growth, scaly patch, or non-healing sore.

The ABCDEs of atypical moles are:

Asymmetry: One half doesn’t match the other
Border: Irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined borders
Color: Varied color, including shades of tan, brown, black, white, red, or blue, within a single lesion
Diameter: Larger than the size of a pencil eraser
Evolution: A mole or lesion that changes in size, color, or shape

If you notice an abnormal looking spot on your skin, or of you have a spot that has changed, itches, or bleeds, you should see Dr. Seidenberg.

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