SKIN CANCER SURVEILLANCE

We agree with the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society in recommending an annual full skin exam to all patients over the age of 40. If you have risk factors for skin cancer such as a family history, many moles, or a history of blistering sunburns, you should start your screening earlier.

When you come to our office for your first medical visit we will recommend that you have your skin screened for skin cancer. We advocate that skin cancer screening be a team approach, and we will do our best to educate you as to how to perform monthly self exams so that you may bring any suspicious areas to our attention.

In the event that there is a growth on your skin that needs to be removed, Dr. Hull has received extensive training in skin surgery and has studied the latest techniques and procedures.

Our comprehensive array of surgical and nonsurgical services include:

• Removal of precancerous growths either by cryotherapy, topical chemotherapy cream, chemical peels, laser resurfacing or photodynamic therapy with blue light.
• Surgical removal of skin cancers such as basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and melanomas.
• Removal of benign lesions such as skin tags, treatises, warts and cysts.

For more information on skin cancers, the Skin Cancer Foundation is a helpful resource: www.skin cancer.org

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY/"BLUE LIGHT"

Patients will often ask, "what can I do to treat the sundamaged skin?" A good recommendation for this is photodynamic therapy. This procedure involves applying a topical medication, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), to the skin. The medication is left on the skin for a specified time. The area is then treated with blue light which activates the acid. The procedure can effectively treat early changes in the skin that may lead to skin cancer and is also used to treat acne. Insurance may cover this procedure. Click HERE for more information.