You might not think about having a major organ on the outside of your body, but your skin is just that, the largest organ you have. Like any organ, your skin is subject to disorders and illnesses, including cancer.
At Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates in Lawrence and Ottawa, Kansas, we specialize in diagnosing and treating skin lesions of the face and neck. These range from things as simple as freckles, to tumors both benign and malignant, any growth or spot that’s different from the surrounding skin.
Many skin lesions are common, such as acne or moles, and may not need medical attention. This month’s blog helps you determine if your skin lesions require a visit with our doctors.
Lesions can result from injuries, such as cuts and sunburn, or as reactions or side effects of medical conditions. Tumors are primary lesions, in that they are the direct, abnormal growths, not ones that result from other conditions.
Benign skin lesions aren’t cancerous and usually not harmful. These make up most of the skin lesions you’re likely to see and many of them require no treatment or care for cosmetic reasons only. These include:
Newly developing skin lesions or existing ones that show changes should be checked out by one of our physicians, but it’s likely there’s no cause for concern.
Malignant lesions usually have characteristics that set them apart from benign lesions. Your lesion may be cancerous if it creates a nonhealing wound, is a new growth on your skin, or represents a visible change to an existing lesion or mole.
Contact us as soon as possible if you have lesions that display any of the following:
You can also use the ABCDE mnemonic for skin self-assessments. Check for lesions that display these traits:
Contact Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates immediately to schedule a cancer screening. You can reach our nearest office by phone or online. Book your visit now.
