Spotting Skin Cancer Early and Why Mohs Surgery Is the Gold Standard for Florida Residents

Florida’s warm and welcoming sunshine is one of the primary reasons why people love living here, but years of sun exposure can take a toll on your skin. Aside from premature aging, regular exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages skin cells, leading to a significantly higher risk of skin cancer.

That means knowing the signs of skin cancer and checking your skin regularly are especially important. Why? Because even a tiny spot that seems completely harmless could be an early sign of skin cancer, and recognizing skin changes sooner rather than later can make skin cancer treatment simpler. 

For many skin cancers, Mohs surgery offers superior results — but it’s not always the optimal choice. This month, our team at Luminary Dermatology describes early skin cancer symptoms you should know about and why Mohs surgery represents the gold standard for treatment.

Know what deserves a closer look

When it comes to skin cancers, many people think of irregular moles, one of the hallmark signs of melanoma, the rarest and most dangerous type of skin cancer. The ABCDE guide to melanoma is one of the most widely recognized at-home methods for identifying unusual moles early.

However, the more common skin cancer types — squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma — are typically associated with other skin changes that can be more difficult to spot, especially in their early stages.

These carcinomas cause symptoms easily attributed to other issues, like abrasions, age spots, or even allergic reactions. Simple symptoms — such as rough or scaly patches, pearl-like bumps, skin-colored lumps or bumps, or even persistent sores that crust and bleed — could be signs of a developing skin cancer.

And while many skin cancers develop on areas that have been exposed to a lot of sun over the years, the fact is, these lesions can show up anywhere, even on parts of your body that have rarely received sun exposure.

Early detection can make treatment easier

As with other cancers, most skin cancers continue to grow and spread if not treated. Identifying cancerous lesions as early as possible can make treatment a lot easier, mainly because less tissue is involved. 

Early detection is especially important for lesions that appear on your face or hands, where significant tissue removal can cause cosmetic and even functional concerns.

During your annual skin exam at Luminary Dermatology, we look for suspicious skin changes that could be associated with skin cancer. We may remove a tiny sample of tissue so it can be examined under a microscope. If we note cancer-related changes, we can recommend a treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Your specific plan depends on factors such as the type of cancer we find and the size and location of the lesion. For many people with basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, Mohs surgery is part of that treatment plan.

Why Mohs surgery is the gold standard

Mohs surgery is a stepwise procedure that’s designed to remove all the cancerous tissue while preserving as much surrounding healthy tissue as possible. During your procedure, we remove all of the visible lesion. Our team examines it immediately in our on-site lab.

Specifically, we look at the edges, or borders, of the tissue. If we see skin cancer cells along that border, we remove additional tissue in the corresponding area. We reevaluate the new skin tissue, and the cycle continues until all the borders are clear and all of the cancerous tissue is removed.

This precise approach spares as much healthy tissue as possible. And by examining the tissue edges immediately, we eliminate the need for repeated office visits and additional surgeries to treat the same lesion.

While we often recommend Mohs surgery for basal cell and squamous cell cancers, it’s not routinely used for many types of melanoma. That’s because melanomas can be much more aggressive, and different types of treatment may be warranted to ensure the best outcomes.

Protect your skin now and in the future

You can’t undo the sun exposure you’ve already had, but you can protect your skin going forward. Using broad-spectrum sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, avoiding midday sun exposure, and skipping tanning beds can help protect your skin and reduce your risk of dangerous UV exposure in the future.

Finally, having annual skin checks is essential — especially when you live in the Sunshine State. To schedule your routine annual skin exam, to have a suspicious-looking lesion evaluated, or to find out more about Mohs surgery, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Luminary Dermatology.

We have several convenient locations — in North Miami Beach, Kendall, Homestead, Sarasota, Venice, Longboat Key, Bradenton, and North Port, Florida.