We’ve all had it: the crusty, red spot on your face that just won’t go away.
Face creams won’t work. It cannot be popped no matter how hard you squeeze. Washing your skin makes no difference.
It can be embarrassing and even annoying, but we rarely consider these blemishes dangerous. But what if I told you there was a chance that this stubborn, red spot could be cancer?
As a general practitioner who had his own brush cancerI am concerned that many patients are not aware of the signs of the most common form of skin cancer.
And with record-breaking warm weather this summer, cases are only expected to increase as the disease is strongly linked to sun exposure.
Fortunately, there are a few simple tricks patients can learn that will help them tell the difference between a stubborn spot and cancer.
But first it’s important to explain the different types of skin cancer, because this determines the symptoms – and the treatment.
Perhaps the best-known form of the disease is also the most deadly: melanoma.
Dr. Philippa Kaye says it’s possible that a red spot on the face that refuses to go away could be cancer
About 20,000 people develop melanoma every year – and about 2,600 die as a result over the same period.
A melanoma almost always develops in the same way: a mole that changes or grows.
This may mean it becomes larger, has jagged edges or becomes asymmetrical. It can change color – become red, brown or black – or multiple colors at the same time. It may itch or bleed.
With melanoma, time is of the essence because it can spread throughout the body. The good news, however, is that many people can tell if a mole is changing as long as they look.
More difficult to recognize are squamous cell carcinomas, a form of the disease that tends to appear as a small, red, crusty spot. Sometimes this mark can be painful.
Crucially, squamous cell carcinomas tend to grow quickly and spread throughout the body, meaning that this cancer – while less noticeable than melanoma – is still often picked up by a watchful eye.
The same cannot be said for the most common form of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma grows very slowly, which is good news, but it’s also the reason people often miss it.
Instead, it usually manifests as an ulcer that bleeds, oozes, or scabs and—most importantly—it doesn’t go away.
Basal cell carcinoma often manifests as an ulcer that bleeds, oozes, or scabs
Sometimes basal cell carcinoma can be even more subtle, simply appearing as a shiny bump or scaly reddish spot.
I have previously seen cases that were initially mistaken for non-threatening skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. I know patients who have described how their basal cell carcinoma initially was “that little spot that just won’t go away.”
This cancer is also more common on the ears, scalp, neck, or face.
And while the disease is thankfully not as deadly as melanoma – in Britain there are fewer than 100 deaths each year – the longer patients wait to treat basal cell carcinoma, the harder it becomes to treat.
This is because the cancer burrows into the skin. The deeper it gets, the more intensive the operation will have to be.
The best way to tackle skin cancer in all its forms is of course to prevent it from developing in the first place. This means that the skin is protected against UV rays – the harmful radiation emitted by the sun.
This seems simple enough, but a surprising number of Brits fail to protect their skin.
A study published earlier this year by the charity Melanoma Focus found that one in nine British adults have deliberately burned their skin, putting them at increased risk of skin cancer.
General practitioner, author and presenter Dr. Philippa Kaye
The survey of more than 3,000 adults in Britain found that a surprising one in three adults also admitted to never using sunscreen.
The NHS advice is to always use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 when in the sun, applying six to eight teaspoons to the whole body every two hours – and always after swimming, sweating or toweling off.
However, the most effective measure against the damage of direct sunlight is to avoid it altogether by staying in the shade when the sun is at its strongest – between 11am and 3pm.
That said, basal cell carcinoma is treatable thanks to modern medicine – if it’s caught early enough. There are now a number of effective treatments, including some as simple as prescription creams.
But the trick is to discover it in time. This means paying attention to stains that refuse to go away or stains that just won’t budge. If you think this describes your spot, it may be time to talk to your doctor.
