Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. A majority of the instances of skin cancer appear on the face, head or neck. They can not only be disfiguring, but also dangerous. Skin cancer is caused primarily by ultraviolet radiation, as a result of exposure to the sun. It can affect anyone, but people with fair skin, people with a family history of skin cancer and those who spend a lot of time outdoors are particularly prone to the disease.

The good news is that the two most common types of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma), if caught in their early stages have a strong, ninty-five percent cure rate. Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous and potentially deadly form of skin cancer. There are also other non-cancerous skin growths which include moles that are heavily pigmented clusters of skin cells, and solar or actinic keratoses that appear as rough, red or brown scaly patches of skin. These conditions are benign, but can potentially become cancerous if subjected to constant irritants. It is important to recognize the various types of skin cancer and growths through regular examination of the skin. Any unusual findings or changes should be checked by a doctor.

By removing samples of a growth and examining the cells under a microscope, your doctor can determine whether the growth is or is not cancerous. If it's determined to be cancerous, the growths can be surgically removed by a plastic surgeon. In the event of major surgery in skin-cancer cases, reconstructive techniques can repair scarred tissue or rebuild body parts to restore a patient's physical appearance.

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