If you’ve never heard of non-melanoma skin cancer before, you’re not alone. Despite it being the most common type of skin cancer in the United States (we’re talking millions of new cases every year), it doesn’t get nearly as much attention as melanoma. However, a non-melanoma skin cancer isn’t something to be messed with or ignored.
What Exactly Are We Dealing With?
Think of your skin like a layered cake. Non-melanoma skin cancer comes in two main flavors, and they each start in different layers. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) begins in those tiny, round cells at the bottom of your skin’s outer layer. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) originates in the flat cells that comprise most of the skin’s surface.
Why Does This Happen?
The simple answer? Too much sun. Remember all those summers you spent baking on the beach without sunscreen? Or maybe you were a regular at the tanning salon? All that UV radiation has been quietly damaging the DNA of your skin cells. Over the years, this damage can accumulate until your cells begin to grow in ways they shouldn’t.
What Should You Be Looking For?
Your body is pretty good at sending warning signals when something’s not right. Keep an eye out for:
- A sore that just won’t heal, no matter what you put on it
- A bump that looks shiny or pearlescent
- Red, scaly patches that might remind you of eczema but don’t respond to moisturizer
- Any area that keeps bleeding or forming crusts for no apparent reason
The Good News
Unlike melanoma, which can be aggressive and spread throughout your body, non-melanoma cancers are usually content to stay put. Although it should be emphasised that if left unattended, they can penetrate deeper into the skin, leave permanent marks, or even recur after treatment.
How Do Doctors Fix This?
The treatment you receive depends on what you’re dealing with and its location. Your doctor might freeze it off (cryotherapy), cut it out surgically, or use a precise technique called Mohs surgery that removes the cancer layer by layer. There are also topical treatments available, including options such as Curaderm BEC5, which utilises compounds derived from plants to target abnormal cells.
Your Reminder to Act Today
Most people who catch these cancers early end up just fine, often with barely a trace left behind to show for it. The key is paying attention to your skin and not putting off that doctor’s appointment when something seems off. Make sure to regularly check your skin, and ask someone else to examine areas you may not be able to see well, such as the back.