Pre-Cancer
Pre-cancers called actinic keratoses can occur in areas of skin that have accumulated sun exposure over the years, and may appear as red rough areas with a sandpaper-y texture. This very common type of pre-cancer can develop into squamous cell cancer. These may be treated with a new generation of fast-acting topical prescriptions.
Another type of pre-cancer is a dysplasic nevus. These are atypical pigmented lesions that may have uneven pigment, blurry borders, asymmetric shape, and unusual or very dark color. It’s important to diagnose dysplastic nevi early as they may have the potential to evolve into melanoma.
An area of particular susceptibility is the skin of the lips which undergo pre-cancerous changes called actinic cheilitis. Due to the thin and fragile nature of the skin in that area, the lips are more sensitive and oftentimes these rough growths are mistaken for chapped lips.
Dr. Sherber advises her patients to come into the office for regular skin checks and be diligent in assessing their skin at home. Early detection is key for detection of pre-cancerous lesions before they can develop into skin cancer.
As part of a skin check, Dr. Sherber ensures that her patients have a comprehensive treatment plan and thorough follow-up in the years following diagnosis. Following a pre-cancer diagnosis, Dr. Sherber may suggest that patients get a series of total body photographs to give a baseline to use against any future skin exam imaging. In combination with this treatment plan and progress imaging, ongoing use of a broad spectrum sun protection and regular total body skin examinations will be critically important.
In most cases of actinic keratosis, Dr. Sherber opts to use new topical treatments that target the abnormal cells. These creams work by selectively killing precancerous skin cells while leaving healthy cells untouched and involve only a few days of redness in the treated area.
For dysplastic nevi, Dr. Sherber recommends excision, or plastic surgical excision depending on the size and site, with a safety margin to ensure complete removal.