Skin Cancer

Itchy skin is one of those things that most people dismiss without a second thought. Dry weather, a new washing powder, too many hot showers. Usually, that is all it is.

There’s something that has always struck me about the way tanning beds are sold. The language around them tends to be about control. A measured dose. A consistent result. The sun, but tidier, more predictable.

It’s a reasonable-sounding pitch.. Biology, unfortunately, does not back it up.

The nose is one of the most common areas for skin cancer to develop because it is frequently exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Its shape also means that the bridge, tip, and sides of the nose often receive direct sun exposure over many years.

Bowen's disease is a very early, non-invasive form of skin cancer in which abnormal cells are confined to the outermost layer of the skin. You may also hear it described as squamous cell carcinoma in situ, meaning the abnormal cells have not yet spread into the deeper layers of the skin.

Actinic keratosis is one of the most common skin conditions associated with long-term sun exposure. It often appears as a rough, scaly patch of skin and may develop gradually over time, particularly in areas that receive frequent ultraviolet (UV) exposure.

Most people leave a diagnosis appointment having heard both words. Stage. Grade. Sometimes in the same sentence. Often without much of a pause between them.

When people hear the word “chemotherapy,” they often think of medicines given through a drip or tablets that travel throughout the body. However, some chemotherapy medicines can also be applied directly to the skin as a cream.

Sunscreen has become one of the most widely recommended forms of sun protection, yet questions about its safety continue to circulate online. Some claims suggest that sunscreen ingredients may increase cancer risk, while others point to people who develop skin cancer despite using sunscreen and wonder whether it works at all.

A diagnosis of skin cancer often leads to one immediate question: can it be cured? The answer is frequently encouraging, but it depends on several factors, including the type of skin cancer involved, how advanced it is, and how it responds to treatment.

If you have been diagnosed with skin cancer, it is completely reasonable to want a second opinion.

Recovery after skin cancer surgery is not usually about doing more. It is often about avoiding the things that interfere with healing.

People ask this question in two very different moods.

Sometimes, it’s curiosity. “My mum had a melanoma. Is that a thing?”

Other times, it’s fear. “My dad had skin cancer. I have freckles. Am I basically waiting my turn?”