Understanding Your Skin
At NZ Skin Health, we believe that education is the first step toward effective prevention. In a country with some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, understanding what to look for, and having a professional clinical team to monitor it, is essential.
The Importance of Professional Skin Assessments
Early detection is the most powerful tool we have. Melanoma accounts for nearly 80% of all skin cancer deaths, yet when identified early, it has an incredibly high survival rate.
Unlike a standard visual check, our Full Body Skin Assessments utilize high-resolution digital dermoscopy. Our specialised Dermoscopists use advanced imaging software to capture and enhance images of lesions, creating a precise digital record of your skin. This non-invasive technique allows us to monitor for minute changes in shape, color, or structure that the naked eye simply cannot see.
What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?
While only a professional clinical assessment can provide a definitive diagnosis, understanding the early warning signs of skin cancer is vital for your ongoing health. Below, we have provided clinical examples of common skin cancers and precancerous lesions to help you identify potential areas of concern on your own skin.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Low danger; slow to spread
Basal cell carcinomas are the most common type of skin cancer which usually occurs on the face or other sun exposed skin. BCCs often look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars and are usually caused by some level of sun exposure. BCCs occur in the deepest layer of the epidermis and tends to only spread across skin tissue and very rarely spread any further than the original tumour site, this makes BCCs easy to treat or remove in most cases.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Moderate danger
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common form of skin cancer that develops in the squamous cells that make up the middle and outer layer of the skin. SCCs often look like scaly red patches, open sores, warts or elevated growths with a central depression; they may crust or bleed.. Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is usually not life-threatening, though it can be aggressive and become disfiguring in some cases and need to be treated.
Melanoma
Dangerous
Melanoma is the most aggressive and life-threatening skin cancer. It develops in the cells that give the skin its colour (melanocytes) and has a very high tendency to mutate and spread to other parts of the body. The cure rates depend greatly on the stage of melanoma by the time of detection. The earlier it is detected the better the chances of being cured. Treatment for malignant melanoma can be as easy as excising the mole if it is detected early, however, further treatment options may be required depending on the type of melanoma being treated and severity of the case.
Lentigo Maligna / Melanoma in SITU
Moderate danger
Lentigo Maligna is an early form of melanoma in which the malignant cells are confined to the tissue of origin, the epidermis, hence it is often reported as ‘in situ’ melanoma. It occurs in sun damaged skin so is generally found on the face or neck, particularly the nose and cheek.
Common Pre-Cancerous Lesions
While many skin marks such as freckles, solar lentigo, and common naevi (normal moles) are benign results of sun exposure, certain lesions require closer clinical monitoring. Our Dermoscopists specialise in distinguishing these common spots from those that may pose a risk to your health. Below are some common moles which concern our paitents
Atypical / Dysplastic Moles
Usually safe but should be treated or removed
Atypia refers to a presence of one or more cellular or architectural features that deviate from that of an otherwise normal appearing cell or group of cells. Atypical moles are benign but can be a precursor to melanoma. People who have them are at increased risk of developing melanoma, which is why we recommend that these moles are biopsied and sent to the lab for testing as a precautionary measure.
Solar / Actinic Keratosis
Usually safe but should be treated or removed
Actinic keratoses usually affect older adults. Reducing sun exposure can help reduce risk. It is most common on the face, lips, ears, back of hands, forearms, scalp and neck. The rough, scaly skin patch enlarges slowly and usually causes no other signs or symptoms. A lesion may take years to develop. Because it can become cancerous, it’s usually removed as a precaution.
Seborrhoeic / Seborrheic Keratosis
Almost always safe
A seborrhoeic keratosis is one of the most common non-cancerous skin growths in older adults. While it’s possible for one to appear on its own, multiple growths are more common. Seborrheic keratosis often appears on the face, chest, shoulders or back. It has a waxy, scaly, slightly elevated appearance. No treatment is necessary. If the seborrhoeic keratosis causes irritation, we can remove this easily for you.
Angioma
Almost always safe
Red moles, or cherry angiomas, are common skin growths that can develop on most areas of your body. These are normal and should not worry you, however we can remove them.