Could a skin cancer diagnosis be in your future? By age 70, 20 percent of Americans will have developed skin cancer, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Performing regular self-exams and visiting your Naperville, IL, dermatologist, Dr. Sharon Horton will help you protect your skin. Dr. Horton treats patients from the Wheaton, Naperville, Elgin, Aurora, and Dekalb areas here at Advanced Dermatology and Mohs Surgery—read on to learn more.

Signs of skin cancer

Skin cancer signs vary depending on the type of cancer. If you have basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, you may notice rounded bumps that look like pimples on your skin. Unlike pimples, these bumps won't go away in a few weeks. The cancer can take the form of either an open sore that doesn't heal, or a brown, black, red, or pink spot on your skin.

Squamous cell carcinoma also causes skin changes that may not seem particularly alarming at first. You may see a flaky or crusty patch of red skin or notice a firm, red bump or open sore. As with basal cell carcinoma, changes that last more than a few weeks can be signs of cancer.

Although squamous and basal cell cancers usually don't spread to other parts of your body, they can invade underlying bones and tissues if they aren't treated promptly.

A change in the appearances of a mole can be a sign that you have melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Melanoma symptoms can include:

• Changing Borders or Shapes: The edges of your mole may become rough or irregular, or you might notice that the shape or height of your mole has changed.
• Color Change: Any change in color can be a potential sign of cancer.
• Asymmetry: Do both sides of your mole look the same?
• Texture: Your mole may look bumpy or flaky if you have melanoma. Itching can also occur.
• Pain and Bleeding: Pain, bleeding, and red skin surrounding the mole may be signs of trouble.

How is skin cancer treated?

Your Batavia skin doctor will remove your mole or spot if it looks suspicious. If you're diagnosed with skin cancer, you may need surgery to remove all of the cancer cells. Depending on the type and extent of the cancer, skin-sparing Mohs surgery, a procedure that removes skin layer by layer to minimize scarring, may be recommended.

Are you concerned about a mole or spot on your skin? Your dermatologist, Dr. Sharon Horton of Advanced Dermatology and Moh's Surgery, offers skin care and cancer treatment to patients in the Wheaton, Naperville, Elgin, Aurora, and Dekalb areas. Call her at (630) 482-3700 to schedule an appointment.