Worldwide, skin cancer is the most common oncological disease; Sun exposure being its most important risk factor. If you have light skin and eyes, and live in a geographical area with high exposure to ultraviolet solar radiation, the risk of developing carcinoma or melanoma increases.
In a simple way, we can talk about three types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. As a curious note, the presence of cancer is often associated with pain, which is a mistake. Most tumors do not cause pain until they are in advanced stages.
Many patients are surprised when diagnosed with a malignant skin tumor and say: “But it didn’t hurt! How can it be bad?” In oncology, there are several golden rules. The first, prevention. Prevention involves establishing a sensible relationship with the sun. It is not necessary to put outdoor activities aside: simply do them in hours of low sun (early or late in the day), use sun protection and clothing that protects us. Protection options abound. What is not recommended is to put on a protector and stretch out in the midday sun, like a lizard. The second golden rule is to consult a specialist, as soon as possible, before the appearance of an injury that was not present or one that has changed.
For people with high risk (very white skin and/or a family history of melanoma) and an abundance of moles, it is recommended to monitor moles with body maps and digital dermoscopy (Total Body Photography). This technology makes it possible to digitally monitor moles and, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) software, detect those changes in the nevus that justify their removal.
For skin that already has sun damage, there are various treatments, including photodynamic therapy. In this treatment, the application of a photosensitizing cream is combined with the exposure of the treated skin to a controlled frequency light. It is possible to selectively destroy malignant cells, with excellent oncological and cosmetic results. Imaging techniques have changed cutaneous oncology by giving the specialist the opportunity to diagnose malignant tumors early. Dermoscopy, high-resolution ultrasound, and confocal microscopy are some of the tools available today to the dermatologist specializing in skin oncology.
In the Pasquali Medical Center
