Skin Cancers
Skin cancers can be generally curable if caught early. Our board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Wesson, Dr. Hoffman and Dr. Masub, screen for, diagnose and treat skin cancer. Dr. Wesson's clinical focus is melanoma and other skin cancers.
What To Look For
Use the American Academy of Dermatology's ABCDEs to check a mole or spot:
Asymmetry: Half the mole does not match the other half in size, shape or color.
Border: The edges are irregular, scalloped or poorly defined.
Color: The mole is not the same color throughout.
Diameter: The mole is usually greater than 6 millimeters when diagnosed, but may also be smaller.
Evolving: The mole or spot looks different from the rest, or changes in size, shape or color.
If you notice any of these, make an appointment with one of our dermatologists.
Prevention
Roughly 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers are attributable to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater year round, stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and check your skin monthly.
Our shop carries the skin care and skin protection our doctors recommend, including Alastin, EltaMD, Neova, SkinCeuticals and NeoStrata. Shop Wesson Dermatology skincare.
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A full-body skin exam is the most frequent visit at our office, and our doctors have done more than 2,000 so far this year. We recommend that adults over 40 get an annual exam with a dermatologist. People who have had skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing a new one, so regular self-checks and visits matter for them too. Book an exam.
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Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. These tend to be slow-growing tumors that rarely spread, and 85% occur on the face and neck. They can appear as a pearly bump, a mole-like spot with a pearly edge, a sore that keeps healing and reopening, or a flat, waxy scar.
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Squamous cell carcinoma usually shows up as a crusted or scaly patch with an inflamed, red base, and it's often tender to the touch. It most often appears on the scalp, face, ears and backs of the hands. In some cases it develops from actinic keratoses, which are dry, scaly spots considered precancerous.
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Melanoma is the least common type of skin cancer and the most serious, and early detection is critical. Melanomas look like moles and often grow inside existing moles, which is why regular self-checks matter. Melanoma also runs in families.