A quick look at a common nail condition you've never heard of
If you've ever had a hangnail, you know how irritating they are. Hangnails can be painful and getting rid of them is an exercise in trying to avoid an infection.
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the world, and while receiving a cancer diagnosis can be scary, there are a variety of treatments available to you to help get you on the mend. One of our most reliable treatments is called Mohs' micrographic surgery.
Mohs surgery is a skin cancer therapy commonly used for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. The treatment is done all in one visit, divided into several phases in which the surgeon removes a small layer of cells and has them analyzed for cancer. This lets the surgeon know exactly where the cancerous cells are and allows them to spare as much healthy tissue as feasible in the excision.
Mohs' surgery has the highest skin cancer cure rate and leaves the slightest possible scar.
You'll head into the dermatologist's office early in the morning. The procedure will be done outpatient, in a surgery suite, where you will receive a local anesthetic at the site of the tumor. It will last several hours, carried out in stages, with the surgeon excising a small layer of cells each time.
This lab study is the most time-consuming part of the process, so between waits, your incision will be dressed, and you'll wait in our special Mohs' waiting room, where you'll have refreshments and entertainment prepared.
After the cancer is excised, we'll examine choices for wound closure and follow-up visits.
The main contrast between micrographic surgery and other techniques of removing skin lesions is microscopic control. In a word, Mohs' surgery is exact. This provides the opportunity for a more cosmetically attractive outcome, particularly when skin cancer presents on the face.
Aside from the minimal scarring, Mohs' offers the convenience and reassurance of a one-day cure. Most patients are fully cured in only one session. This makes the method cost-effective as well; in the case of a recurring lesion, you'll need fewer return visits than with other remedies.
Talk to your dermatologist about how to thwart skin cancer before it starts. If you discover a difference in your skin that is unfamiliar to you, make an appointment with a dermatologist right away. At City Derm, we have the kind of trained experts who will provide you with custom-tailored and compassionate treatment. Reach out to us today to make an appointment and save your skin!
