Basal Cell Carcinoma

Your Healthy Skin is Our Priority

Your Healthy Skin is Our Priority

General

What is Basal Cell Carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a form of skin cancer that develops in the cells found in the bottom layer of the epidermis (top layer of skin). BCC forms when the DNA of the normal basal cells becomes damaged, which allows the damaged cells to grow and reproduce out of control.

At over 3.5 million diagnosed cases per year, basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer found in the United States. And basal cell carcinoma cases are continuing to rise year after year. With this increase, it’s essential to learn as much as you can about this common cancer to reduce your risk and ensure the health of your skin.

Read our basal cell carcinoma guide below to better understand how it can show up on the skin, what causes BCC, and how we treat basal cell carcinoma at The Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington.

Questions

Basal Cell Carcinoma FAQs

Read our dermatologists’ answers to frequently asked questions about basal cell carcinoma (BCC) below, and contact us to schedule your annual skin cancer screening.

What causes basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma is usually caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays, typically from the sun or tanning beds. It’s crucial to take necessary precautions to reduce your risk, such as wearing sunscreen, avoiding the sun at peak times of the day, covering the skin with protective clothing, wearing sunglasses and avoiding tanning beds.

What does basal cell carcinoma look like?

There are a few warning signs and symptoms of BCC to keep an eye out for. Basal cell carcinoma can appear on the skin as:

An open sore that heals and reappears or skin lesions that never seems to fully heal.
Red, irritated patches.
Pink growths that may be elevated.
A lesion that looks like a pimple that continues to enlarge and occasionally bleeds.
Shiny, translucent, or pearly nodule.
Growths with raised, rolled edges and/or an indentation in the center.

Additionally, basal cell carcinomas may ooze, crust, itch, or bleed. And in patients with darker skin, around half of BCCs are pigmented (brown in color).

Furthermore, BCCs typically show up in sun-exposed areas of the body, such as the face, ears, forearms, hands, and lips.

Is basal cell carcinoma dangerous?

Basal cell carcinoma can be dangerous when left untreated, as BCCs will continue to grow outward and will continue to invade deeper tissues, including bone. Basal cell carcinoma can be disfiguring if left untreated, and in some very rare cases could even be fatal.

Are basal cell carcinomas itchy?

A symptom or warning sign of BCC includes an irritated, reddish patch, which may form a crust and begin to itch or hurt.

Can basal cell carcinomas metastasize (spread to other areas within the body)?

In most cases, basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing skin cancer that does not spread to other organ systems within the body. Although rare, some basal cell carcinomas can metastasize, most often to the local lymph nodes or lungs.

How is basal cell carcinoma treated?

Our team of experienced dermatologists at the Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington use a few different basal cell carcinoma treatment methods to address and cure this type of skin cancer.

Your basal cell carcinoma treatment may include:

Mohs surgery
Excisional surgery
Curettage and electrodesiccation (electrosurgery)
Photodynamic therapy
Cryosurgery
Laser surgery
Topical medications

To learn more about the different treatment options we offer for basal cell carcinoma at the Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington, please get in touch with our clinic.

PHOTOS

Basal Cell Carcinoma Photos

Not sure what basal cell carcinoma may look like? Use the visuals below to get more familiar with how this skin cancer may show up on your body. If you have any other questions about basal cell carcinoma or skin cancer, please get in touch with one of our board-certified dermatologists today.

GET IN TOUCH

Diagnosis and Treatment for Basal Cell Carcinoma in Wilmington, NC

Do you suspect you may have basal cell carcinoma or have been diagnosed with it and are looking for skin cancer treatment options?

At The Dermatology & Skin Surgery Center of Wilmington, our board-certified dermatologists are highly experienced in skin cancer diagnosis and treatment. Schedule an appointment today by contacting our North Carolina office at (910) 782-0028 or request an appointment online.

Have questions or concerns? Please call us at 910.782.0028.