Skin cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer, impacting one in five Americans over the course of their life. Fortunately, it is highly treatable, especially if detected early. The medical team working to diagnose and treat skin cancer at New Jersey’s Skin & Laser Center of NJ knows that cancer can be a scary word, but we’re here to help you through every step—from diagnosis to treatment—with compassion and experience.
There are several different kinds of skin cancer, each with a unique appearance. The more you know about skin cancer—including what causes skin cancer, how to identify skin cancer, the various treatment options, and how to help prevent skin cancer—the better prepared you will be on your own journey. Most importantly, you’re not alone on that journey. We have decades of experience treating all types of skin cancer, helping guide our patients back to the physical and mental security that comes with good health.
In late 2016 she founded the Skin & Laser Center of NJ, LLC in Mahwah, NJ where she continues to treat her medical and cosmetic patients, and further pursues her interest in laser medicine. Dr. Lieb’s mission is to provide high quality dermatologic care using up-to-date medical information and cutting edge technology in an efficiently run practice. Dr. Lieb is board certified in dermatology, is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, a member of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the New Jersey Dermatologic Society. Dr. Lieb is a Staff Dermatologist at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood.
There are several different kinds of skin cancer that we treat at our New Jersey-based practice, but the most commonly occurring types are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Other types of skin cancer that New Jersey patients might experience include dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, merkel cell carcinoma, and sebaceous carcinoma.
Of the various types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma is by far the most common, accounting for about 80 percent of skin cancer cases. Basal cell carcinoma develops in the basal cells, which are responsible for creating new cells after old skin cells die. This particular type of cancer is most likely to occur in areas that are commonly exposed to sunlight, such as the head, face, neck, and hands. However, this does not preclude basal cell carcinoma from forming on other areas of the body. This tends to occur after years of sun exposure or indoor tanning and often presents as a round, flesh-colored growth.
The second most commonly occurring form is squamous cell carcinoma, developing in the outer layers of skin in areas frequently exposed to sunlight. This cancer tends to manifest as firm red bumps and scaly patches. While this is most likely to occur on the ears, face, neck, arms, chest, and back, it can occur on other parts of the body as well.
The third and potentially dangerous form is melanoma. This appears in cells that are responsible for creating pigment in the skin, and it is considered dangerous because it can grow quickly and is capable of spreading to the lymph nodes and internal organs. Melanoma can appear within an existing mole or as a new dark spot in the skin. As with all skin cancers, early detection and treatment has a high rate of success.
Skin & Laser Center of NJ offers a variety of highly effective skin cancer treatment options. The first step to pursuing skin cancer screening in New Jersey is to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced providers. They will conduct an examination to check for moles, birthmarks, or other pigmented areas that could be indicative of cancerous cells. If your provider identifies a problematic area, they may conduct a biopsy to test for cancer, and then discuss treatment options.
The goal of any skin cancer treatment is to remove all cancerous cells. Depending on the size and location of the lesion and general health of the patient, this can be accomplished through a variety of methods. The most common are:
As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” While not all skin cancer is preventable, there are steps you can take to mitigate your risks. The most important thing you can do to help avoid skin cancer is staying out of the sun and covering any exposed skin when it is impossible to avoid direct sunlight. Long sleeves, hats, and sunglasses are excellent tools in this endeavor. Be sure to use sunscreen with a high SPF, even if the weather outside is cloudy. Avoid indoor tanning machines. Be sure to conduct regular screenings at home to look for new moles or changes in existing moles following the A, B, C, D, E guidelines outlined above. And, of course, if you have any questions or concerns, the providers at Skin & Laser Center of NJ are here to help.
Early detection is vital for successfully battling skin cancer. Scheduling regular skin cancer screenings with a provider at Skin & Laser Center of NJ can help when it comes to an early diagnosis, but conducting your own skin cancer screenings at home is also immensely important.
Detecting melanoma is as easy as A, B, C, D, E:
A mole or skin spot with one side that does not resemble the shape of the other is asymmetrical and should be checked.
If the edges of a mole or spot are irregular, ragged, or blurred, that could be an indication of skin cancer.
A mole with multiple colors, an unusual color (black, blue, white, etc.), or inconsistent coloring is worth discussing with your dermatologist.
If the mole or spot is larger than ¼” across, that could be another indication of skin cancer.
If the spot is changing in color, shape, or size, it should be examined by a dermatologist.
The basal cell carcinoma type often presents as a “pimple” that doesn’t go away. The squamous cell carcinoma type often appears as a rough or peeling spot that always comes back.
Skin & Laser Center of NJ in Ramsey provides a wide range of medical, surgical, and cosmetic services for patients in and around New Jersey. Patients can get diagnosis and treatment for acne, skin cancer (with Mohs surgery), chronic conditions (like psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema), moles, melasma, vitiligo, athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, scabies, contact dermatitis, and more. Cosmetic options include wrinkle-relaxing BOTOX® and Dysport®, dermal fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane®, Kybella® for reducing a double chin, chemical peels, Hydrafacial MD, microneedling, laser hair removal, laser acne treatments, laser scar treatments, laser tattoo removal, CoolSculpting®, laser vein treatments, sclerotherapy, and more.
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