Skin Cancer Treatments
Your risks of skin cancer can be reduced when you protect yourself from the sun, are aware of suspicious growths, and visit your dermatologist for regular check-ups.
Westlake Dermatology provides advanced skin cancer diagnosis and treatment options in San Antonio. We offer the latest skin cancer detection and treatments at our Alamo Heights and Olmos Park locations.
What Is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is a common form of cancer that can occur on any area of the skin, even areas that are not ordinarily exposed to the sun. People of any age or skin color can develop skin cancer. Left untreated, skin cancer can be dangerous as it can spread to other organs.
There are three major types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Skin Cancer Diagnosis
When it comes to treating skin cancer, early diagnosis is the key. Typically, skin cancer that is discovered and removed in its early stage is highly curable. As such, regular self-examination is a powerful tool which can alert you to changes in your skin. A change in a mole may indicate a serious problem. Your dermatologist should be seen if you notice that a mole becomes larger, changes color, is asymmetric, or develops an irregular border. Other warning signs include itching, crusting, pain, and bleeding.
While monthly self-examination is great, having an annual professional skin check is highly recommended. Dermatologists are trained to detect cancerous symptoms early.
Annual Skin Cancer Checks
During an annual skin check a dermatologist will inspect your skin from head-to-toe, using a microscope if it’s necessary to inspect individual lesions. If your dermatologist spots any suspicious lesions or moles, your doctor may encourage you to undergo additional diagnostic tests, like a skin biopsy, to determine if the moles are cancerous.
Skin checks are fast and easy. Most screenings can be performed in about 10 minutes, with the exact time depending on the number of moles that must be inspected.
Skin checks are typically covered by most major insurance providers. Please visit our insurance page to learn which plans our San Antonio location currently accept. If you are unsure of what your specific plan covers, please contact your insurance provider directly.
Skin Cancer Excision
During excisional surgery, the skin cancer, along with a surrounding border (margin) of healthy skin, is surgically removed using a scalpel. The wound is then closed using sutures. Excised tissue is sent to a dermatopathology lab to verify that all cancerous cells have been removed. This method is safe and effective in the treatment of skin cancer in many cases.
Meet Our San Antonio Board Certified Dermatologist
- Christopher Edens, MD: Dr. Christopher Edens is a board-certified dermatologist. As a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, he has been diagnosing and treating skin cancer since 2013. He has a strong interest in the use of dermoscopy for the early detection of skin cancer, complex medical dermatology, and in the use of functional and lifestyle medicine interventions to address the broader aspects of health.
- Malini Fowler, MD: Dr. Fowler is a board-certified dermatologist with advanced training in dermatological surgery. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Dr. Fowler earned her medical degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock and completed her residency in Dermatology at Texas Tech University.