Excision is performed when a large chunk of skin tissue, or a skin lesion, needs to be removed for medical purposes. Usually, after an unwanted mass is found on the skin, your doctor will remove the mass as well as the area around it. If you observe a new growth on your skin, tell your dermatologist here at Valley Dermatology immediately so it can be examined.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), also called photoradiation therapy, phototherapy, or photochemotherapy, is a two-stage treatment process combining special drugs and light therapy that kills cancerous and precancerous cells. Used to treat localized cancers, this procedure can help candidates live longer and improve the quality of their life.

Ultraviolet or UV Safety Month comes right in time for beach season. UV radiation comes from two types of rays – UVA and UVB. Both can cause cell damage to your skin’s top layer. While it has some benefits for people, including the creation of Vitamin D, it also can cause health risks, including skin cancer, which is now the most common cancer in the United States. UV Safety month is a reminder to take careful precautions to limit your UV exposure and risk of skin cancer.

Knowledge is power, equip yourself with it about the most common types of skin cancer so you’re aware of what to look out for. There are three major types of skin cancer — basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

As we age, health becomes more important. Thanks to improvements in medicine and health, we live longer lives now. As such, it’s even more important than ever before to develop healthy habits as we get older.

An estimated 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, according to the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), making it the most common autoimmune disease in the country.

Summer is the perfect time to remind viewers about the dangers of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and how to protect themselves in the sun. The skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Yet, some of us don’t consider the necessity of protecting our skin.

People can have stages of skin cancer and yet not feel ill, which makes early treatment and diagnosis a little challenging. But by being aware of the early stages of this disease, and getting an annual skin exam (even in your 20s), you can protect yourself and seek effective treatment right away. The most common signs of skin cancer are changes on your skin, such as a new growth, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a change in a mole. Even if it’s cool and cloudy, you still need protection. UV rays, not the temperature, do the damage.