Signs & Symptoms

Because anyone can develop skin cancer, it’s very important for everyone to be aware of the signs and symptoms. Being able to recognize them may help prevent development of the disease.

The Importance of Understanding Symptoms

Although many skin cancers occur in areas of the body that are most exposed to the sun, they are also capable of developing in areas that are rarely exposed to the sun. This is why routine checking of the skin is vital to discovering and treating skin cancers early on. If you find anything suspicious, you must make an appointment with a skin cancer specialist like Dr. Lamoureux.

Non-Healing Lesions

Sometimes a lesion that won’t heal is a sign of skin cancer. This can include open sores (such as an ulcer) that may have oozing, bleeding, or crusting for more than four weeks—or it may be a lesion that heals and then returns. Normal wounds heal within a week or so.

Bleeding Lesions

A lesion that persistently bleeds for a month or longer should be checked, especially if it bleeds without being touched (or touched lightly). This could be a sign of basal or squamous cell skin cancer, which both have tissue that is delicate and easily injured.

Atypical-Looking Lesions

If you notice any kind of new, abnormal-looking lesion on your skin, it’s important to get it checked out as soon as possible. These lesions can be characterized as scaly patches, persistent roughness, pearly bumps, cutaneous horns, strange lumps or growths, discolored areas, or any type of spot that doesn’t look like others on your body.

Growing or Changing Lesions

Any lesion that changes must be checked, as melanoma lesions frequently begin to change quickly. These changes can include:

Growing
Shrinking
Changing color
Becoming raised
Becomes itchy
Becomes painful
Begins to bleed

Why Choose Skin Dermatology?

You don’t have to settle when choosing a dermatologist. At Skin Dermatology, you can be certain that you’re in the hands of a practice that truly cares about you. Founded and led by double-board certified Dr. Alissa Lamoureux, everything we do is centered around the patient. When it comes to our patients, no expense is spared, and we treat every facet of the skin while working with the most advanced medical technology and treatment options available. Medical dermatology is our focus, and you will be focused on from the first moment you set foot inside our door.

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