Michelle Levender, MD, FAAD

Basal Cell Carcinoma, also known as basalioma or basal cell cancer, is the most common type of skin cancer and carries the least amount of risk, though it still requires attention. If caught and treated early, basal cell carcinomas are not likely to be life-threatening, but they do have the potential to cause disfigurement of the skin tissue.

Almost one million new cases of basal cell carcinoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and up to 30% of Caucasians may develop basal cell carcinomas in their lifetime.

Basal cell carcinoma can be treated by removing the affected area.

Skin cancer is considered low risk when the affected cells remain clustered in a single group. Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are rarely life-threatening. Though it is unlikely to spread to other parts of your body, if left untreated, basal cell carcinoma can move into nearby bone or other tissue.

Basal cell carcinoma typically begins as a small, shiny bump on the face, although it can occur on any part of the body.

Melanoma, the deadliest of skin cancers, only accounts for about 4 percent of all skin cancer cases, but causes about 79 percent of skin cancer deaths.

Melanoma is a cancer of the skin that begins in the melanocytes, which are the cells that produce the pigment melanin. It is the leading cause of cancer death in women 25 to 30 years old and the second leading cause of cancer death in women 30 to 35 years old.

In some cases, melanoma occurs in melanocytes throughout the body, even if those parts have never been exposed to the sun.

Skin cancer is a common concern in the U.S.  Estimates reported by the American Academy of Dermatology suggest one in five people in the U.S. will develop some form of skin cancer. Merkel cell carcinoma is among the rarest forms of skin cancer, wherein estimates by the Skin Cancer Foundation suggest that only one in 130,000 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma. Like melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer with a high mortality rate.  As with most potentially aggressive malignancies, early detection is the best way to decrease the risk of death associated with Merkel cell carcinoma. You can learn more about diagnosis and treatment options for Merkel cell carcinoma on this page.

Photo Credit: Academic Dermatology of Nevada

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare form of skin cancer that arises from Merkel cells, cells that reside deeper in the skin and function to send ‘touch’ signals from outside the skin to the inside of the body.  The diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma is ultimately made by an assessment under the microscope after a skin biopsy has been performed.  Skin biopsies are interpreted by dermatopathologists, doctors who specialize in evaluating skin under the microscope.  Dermatopathologists are well equipped to make this diagnosis accurately when skin tissue is submitted in a biopsy specimen.  Unfortunately, when Merkel cells become cancerous, they also become aggressive.  Merkel cell carcinoma can metastasize (spread) quickly, making it one of the most aggressive types of cancer.  While treatment for Merkel cell carcinoma may be successful, even with treatment Merkel cell carcinoma may evade what appears to be disease remission, and recur.

Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rates for all non-melanoma skin cancers. For certain cases of the most common types of skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma — the cure rate can be as high as 99 percent.

Mohs surgery is a highly specialized surgical technique used to treat non-melanoma skin cancers in which the surgeon removes all of the visible cancer, plus a small margin of the surrounding healthy tissue and examines it to ensure that all cancer cells have been removed at the time of surgery.

The Mohs surgery technique treats skin cancers by removing all of the visible cancer. Image Source: newhealthadvisor.com

During Mohs micrographic surgery — named after Dr. Frederic Mohs, who first performed it in the 1930s — cancer is removed from the skin layer by layer until all cancerous cells have been removed. This type of surgery is most commonly used for cancers that have a high risk of re-occurrence. This technique allows for complete removal of the skin cancer while minimizing the removal of surrounding healthy skin.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. with more than 3.5 million cases diagnosed each year.

Skin cancer is the result of uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin cells that takes place when skin cells suffer DNA damage and then mutate, causing them to multiply rapidly and form malignant (cancerous) tumors. Most skin cancers develop on the visible outer layer of the skin (the epidermis), particularly on sun-exposed areas such as the face, head, hands, arms and legs. They are usually easy to detect with a skin examination, which increases the chances of early diagnosis.

There are different types of skin cancer, each named for the type of skin cell from which they originate. The most common type of skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma. Almost one million new cases of basal cell carcinoma are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Most skin cancers fall into one of three categories:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Melanoma

There are often warning signs that cancer is developing. The most common are pre-cancerous lesions called actinic keratoses that often develop on sun-exposed areas. These tumors replace normal surrounding tissue and generally do not spread to other areas.

Skin cancer is considered low risk when the affected cells remain clustered in a single group. Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are rarely life-threatening.

Skin cancer is considered a high risk when cells have invaded surrounding tissues. The third most common skin cancer, malignant melanoma, can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

If skin cancer is detected before it has spread to surrounding tissues, the chances of a complete recovery and cure are excellent. High-risk forms of cancer like melanoma require more aggressive treatments.

Suspicious moles should be watched closely, as they might indicate a cancerous growth.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a common form of skin cancer that develops in the squamous cells that make up the outer layer of the skin. Although it is usually not life-threatening, it can be aggressive in some cases.

If left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can grow large or spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications.

Your dermatologist will be able to examine your skin for signs of squamous cell carcinoma.

Cysts are pockets of tissue (sacs) that may become filled with pus, fluids, skin cells, and even air.

They are fairly common on the skin and can appear anywhere on the body. Cysts may feel like a pea under the surface of the skin, but without removal, they can grow significantly larger over time. In most cases, cysts are not painful, and they grow slowly. There are different types of cysts as we’ll discuss in the next section, and the vast majority of these skin growths are benign (not cancerous). Not all cysts will require treatment, but it is vitally important to have any lump under the skin evaluated and diagnosed by a board-certified dermatologist because some soft tissue malignancies (growths that are cancerous) can present like a cyst. Before recommending removal or other cyst treatments, your dermatologist will examine the growth to determine whether it is likely to cause you pain, become infected, or otherwise lead to skin health issues.

Skin cysts, which can appear anywhere on the body, are usually painless and grow slowly.

Lipomas: Understanding & Addressing Benign Fatty Growths

A lipoma is a benign fatty growth, most often located in the deep aspect of the skin (subcutaneous tissue).  These growths arise from the normal fat cells in our subcutaneous tissue and are benign (non-cancerous).  However, there is a very rare form of cancer called liposarcoma, which is a malignant growth from these fat cells.  Lipomas are relatively common, impacting about 1% of people.  However, researchers suspect that lipoma incidence is significantly underreported.

Atypical moles, also known as dysplastic nevi, are unusual-looking benign (noncancerous) moles.

A dysplastic mole is one that, when viewed on a cellular level, has features unlike those of a healthy, benign mole. A benign mole will have a regular pattern of coloration and pigment, even borders, symmetry, and a tan or pink color. Dysplastic moles can be asymmetric, have indistinct borders, or contain multiple colors or very dark pigment.

Dysplastic moles are often spotted as the “ugly duckling” on a patient’s skin. Any departure from the typical mole a person’s skin makes may be dysplastic. They can appear anywhere on the body, but in most cases are found on the back, chest, buttocks, breasts, or scalp.

People with atypical moles are at a higher risk of developing melanoma.

Belotero Balance, often called simply Belotero, is the brand name of an injectable dermal filler that helps smooth lines and wrinkles in the face. It is made from hyaluronic acid, a natural element found in skin that binds to water, which makes it effective for minimizing facial folds and wrinkles. It is most often used in people with moderate to severe lines, and it works quickly to remove facial wrinkles.

Botox, the commercial brand name for botulinum toxin (BTX), is an injectable cosmetic dermatology treatment that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face.

Unlike injectable wrinkle fillers, which work by filling a crease in your skin with another substance, Botox actually relaxes targeted muscles to reduce the look of lines in the face. This results in smoother skin with a more youthful appearance.

Each Botox injection relaxes key facial areas by temporarily paralyzing specific muscles. This temporarily removes wrinkles and improves the look of laugh and frown lines, skin bands on the neck, crow’s feet, forehead creases and more.

Botox is a quick procedure that is done in just minutes in your doctor’s office.

Although it was originally developed to treat eye muscle disorders, Botox has become popular cosmetically and this is now its primary use. In fact, Botox injections are now the most common cosmetic treatment in the U.S., with 6.3 million procedures done in 2013. Because Botox inhibits the release of certain neurotransmitters, it is also sometimes used to treat chronic migraines.

Looking to improve and recover your skin’s youthful appearance?

As we age, our skin naturally loses collagen and elasticity. At the same time, repetitive movements and expressions can create facial wrinkles. In addition to comprehensive medical procedures, dermatologists also provide a wide range of minimally-invasive, low impact treatments designed to address a number of aesthetic desires to help you look and feel your best.

While many conditions from unwanted hair and tattoos to wrinkles and rosacea may not be physically harmful, they can be uncomfortable and even cause emotional distress. Cosmetic dermatology offers a wide range of cosmetic surgery and non-surgical services focused on giving you the results you want without the pain, worry, and downtime.

Cosmetic dermatology focuses on aesthetic issues such as skin tone and overall appearance.

Loss of facial fullness and volume is one of the many age-related changes that people want to address with their dermatologist. From store-bought topical treatments to advanced dermatologic and surgical procedures, there are numerous cosmetic dermatology treatments available to help restore youthful volume. However, dermal and soft tissue fillers are often the most conservative and impactful solutions to restore volume without undergoing more invasive treatments. There are many different types of dermal and soft tissue fillers, and each one is formulated to address a specific area or issue related to volume loss. You can learn more on this page.

At U.S. Dermatology Partners we offer premier dermatology services for patients of all ages. Book your appointment today to find the best facial filler treatment for you and your skin, using our simple, online scheduling request form.

The procedure for dermal fillers can usually be done in less than an hour.

Dysport is a prescription injection used for the temporary improvement in severe frown lines between the eyebrows. As the muscles relax and prevent contractions, wrinkles in and around the brow and frown area will disappear.

Dysport, also known as Reloxin, is made from a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum; it is the same neurotoxin used in BOTOX Cosmetic.

Juvederm is a group of injectable dermal filler gels made from hyaluronic acid and used to correct for moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds or to provide contour. Different types of Juvederm are:

• Juvederm Voluma XC – designed to add volume to the cheeks
• Juvederm Volbella XC – used to smooth lines and wrinkles around the mouth
• Juvederm Vollure XC – softens moderate to severe facial lines and wrinkles around the nose and mouth
• Juvederm Ultra XC – created to add volume to the lips
• Juvederm Ultra Plus XC – used for adding volume to the lips and face

Juvederm is delivered via injection.

Keloids are raised, red scars created by excessive healing of skin wounds, such as burns, cuts and acne. They are the result of an overproduction of collagen as the skin tries to repair itself. Keloids also can occur after piercings, tattoos or surgery and often times are itchy and painful. They can grow for years and sometimes show up three months or longer after the injury occurred.

Keloid are caused by an overproduction of collagen as the skin tries to repair itself.

Kybella is an injected treatment that targets fat stores below the chin (double chin). It is one of the best available, non-surgical treatments for double chin, and the knowledgeable dermatologists at U.S. Dermatology Partners are proud to offer this minimally invasive cosmetic dermatology option for our patients who are interested in improving the appearance of their jaw and facial structure without undergoing unnecessarily invasive surgical interventions. If you’re interested in learning more about Kybella, please take a few moments to fill out our appointment request form to schedule a consultation. One of our team members at the office nearest you will be in touch to discuss the details of your visit.

Laser rosacea therapy is a way to treat a rosacea complexion. One of the most common and effective treatments is the pulsed dye laser (PDL), which targets visible blood vessels and can reduce redness and flushing by destroying the lining of the inflamed blood vessels.

Rosacea on facial skin is treatable with laser rosacea therapy.

Latisse is a product designed to help grow eyelashes and has been on the market since earning FDA approval in December 2008. It is designed to help grow longer, lusher eyelashes and is available only by prescription.

Latisse eyelash enhancement helps eyelashes to grow longer and lusher.

At U.S. Dermatology Partners, our board-certified dermatologists utilize a range of treatment options to help our clients achieve healthier, more beautiful skin. Among these are dermal fillers, a great option to improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. There are many different dermal fillers available, and each has its own, unique advantages. RADIESSE dermal filler injections from U.S. Dermatology Partners are an innovative treatment option. Due to the long-lasting results, RADIESSE has quickly become one of the most popular filler options available. You can learn more on this page, and don’t hesitate to call the U.S. Dermatology Partners team near your home or office to schedule a cosmetic dermatology consultation. Book your appointment today to find the best cosmetic dermatology treatment for you and your skin.

RADIESSE is an injectable dermal filler used to plump the skin. When age or scarring causes fine lines, wrinkles, or sagging, RADIESSE dermal fillers can be injected below the skin to restore volume and smooth, youthful fullness. Each type of dermal filler is uniquely formulated to address specific concerns. RADIESSE’s formula uses a water-based gel with calcium-based microspheres to recreate lost volume, with non-toxic and non-allergenic ingredients. Because the components of RADIESSE’s formula are very similar to naturally-occurring minerals, people are much less likely to experience an allergic response. Over time, the body absorbs the filler material, but unlike traditional dermal fillers that need to be immediately readministered to maintain the desired results after they’re absorbed, RADIESSE dermal filler treatment is also designed to spark the production of your body’s natural collagen, meaning you’ll retain your improved appearance for even longer before you need retreatment.

While most people select RADIESSE for use improving the appearance of the face, specifically the skin around the nose and mouth, it is also used to restore volume on the backs of hands, and it can sometimes be administered as an alternative to implant surgery in the nose, cheeks, or chin.

Restylane is an injectable dermal filler gel made from hyaluronic acid to produce volume and fullness in the skin. This reduces the appearance of wrinkles and can also create fullness in the lips.

• Restylane – this is the original Restylane product. This versatile dermal filler can be used to add volume to any pits and grooves in the skin. The original Restylane product is recommended for improving the appearance of nasolabial folds, the deep grooves and wrinkles around the nose. It can also be used for lip enhancement.
• Restylane Silk – this innovative hyaluronic acid filler material is specially formulated to address fine lines around the mouth as well as creating smoother, plumper lips. It is the first FDA approved product specifically designed to help you achieve the perfect pout.
• Restylane Lyft – as we age, natural fat cells are depleted, and the production of collagen and elastin slows. This leads to loose skin, wrinkles, and volume loss in the hands and face. Restylane Lyft is designed to replace volume and firmness in both the hands and the cheeks.
• Restylane Refyne – this is the ideal dermal filler to improve the appearance of mild to moderate laugh lines, including the nasolabial folds that appear from the nose to the corner of the mouth and marionette lines that form from the corner of the mouth to the chin. Restylane Refyne provides support for the skin, creating a smooth appearance while allowing you to maintain all of your facial expression.

Restalyne helps smooth away wrinkles and fine lines.

We all want healthy, beautiful skin. But scars, a natural part of the healing process, leave a lasting mark and cause some people to struggle with the negative impact on the appearance of their skin and in some cases, limitations in function or other concerns. If you’re unhappy with the appearance, texture, or health of your skin after an injury, surgery, or other damage that leads to scarring, the U.S. Dermatology Partners team can offer treatment to improve the appearance of scarring.

Sculptra is an FDA-approved synthetic injectable used to correct shallow to deep facial wrinkles and folds. It is also a collagen stimulator that helps revitalize your body’s own collagen production.

Sculptra corrects deep facial wrinkles and folds.