Skin cancer is caused by an abnormal growth of skin cells. It typically occurs on sun-exposed skin, but can also occur on less frequently exposed areas of the body. It is a prominent form of cancer that affects all skin types. The Dermatology Institute of Southern California is one of the leading skin cancer clinics in the region. Our specialists will immediately put you at ease with our expert knowledge and dedication to our clients’ well being.
With two locations conveniently located in both, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills, the team of dermatologists is led by Dr. Daniel Behroozan, who has been voted a Castle Connelly Top Doctor for 6 years in a row. Together, the team is one of the leading groups at diagnosing and treating skin cancer in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Additionally, Dr. Behroozan is a fellowship trained Mohs Surgeon with additional training beyond the standard Dermatology training, who specializes in the most advanced treatments for skin cancer.
Types of Skin Cancer
- Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form and appears as small fleshy bumps on the skin. Sun exposure is the major cause of this type of skin cancer and fairer people maybe more susceptible. While basal cell carcinomas are generally not deadly, they do grow aggressively and can cause local destruction of tissue leading to pain, discomfort, and poor cosmetic outcomes when left untreated, especially on the face.
- Squamous cell carcinoma appears as nodules and lesions. It is also related to sun exposure and more common to fair skin. Squamous cell carcinomas can lead to adverse health consequences if left untreated. Both basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are cured effectively when found and treated early.
- Melanoma can develop anywhere on the body and on any type of skin. Moles, dark spots and lesions are the typical appearance related to melanoma. Melanoma is a more serious form of skin cancer and can be deadly if not detected and left untreated. Regular annual skin examinations can lead to early detection and high cure rates. Experienced board certified dermatologists such as Dr. Behroozan and his team specialize in detecting these cancers early and effectively.
- Actinic Keratosis is one of the earliest signs of skin cancer. It appears as rough red spots on the body. It is mostly associated with overexposure to the sun. Actinic keratoses can be easily detected and treated with liquid nitrogen (cryosurgery), topical creams, or photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Courses of Treatment
Skin Checks
Early detection is a crucial part of treating skin cancer. Patients need to be monitored to make sure that the cancer isn’t developing in other areas and that they are not developing other forms of skin cancer.
Electrodessication and Curretage
This is an in-office treatment for basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma and has been extremely successful in low risk cases. Our expert doctors scrape away the cancerous tissue and then destroy remaining cancer cells with an electric needle. This procedure has few complications (can have some pain and scarring) and provides high levels of success.
Excision
This procedure is used to remove growths by way of cutting out the tumor and some surrounding skin. All forms of skin cancer can be treated this way depending on the complexity of the tumor.