Skin Cancer Screenings and Mole Checks in Studio City, CA

Studies from the Skin Cancer Foundation show that 20% of Americans will have skin cancer. This number means it's vital to have routine skin exams, especially if you are a person that has a family history of skin cancer. Early detection is key, as this provides more treatment choices and improved results. Board-certified dermatologists Dr. Greg Van Dyke and Dr. Jasmine Yun offer comprehensive skin cancer exams and mole checks at their Studio City, CA office. To schedule a skin cancer screening or mole check, contact Van Dyke Yun Dermatology today.

We look for four types of skin cancers during a skin cancer screening:

• Actinic Keratoses (AK): This type tends to form after the age of 40. Most commonly seen on the head, throat, hands, and arms, AKs appear as dry, scaly spots and are generally deemed precancerous since they can become squamous cell carcinoma.
• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The most common kind of cancer, BCC can form anywhere on your skin and might appear as a pink area, or as a flesh-colored or pearl-like bump. BCC has to be treated because it has the potential to grow into the bones and nerves, causing disfigurements and damage.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): The second most common form of skin cancer, SCC develops on skin that gets the most sun exposure. SCC looks like scaly patches; firm, red bumps; and/or sores that frequently reopen. All these should be eliminated to avoid disfigurement and damage.
• Melanoma: This kind of cancer grows abruptly as a dark area on the skin and is identified using the ABCD rule — Asymmetry, Border, Color, and Diameter. Melanoma causes most skin cancer deaths so it needs to be treated as soon as possible once it's diagnosed.

While men and women with a fair complexion are at greater risk, all skin types and tones can get skin cancer. Van Dyke Yun Dermatology recommends people do routine self-exams of their skin so they know what is there and if a spot changes. Skin cancer screenings should be scheduled anytime you are worried that a spot on your skin changes, bleeds, or itches, or yearly if you've had skin cancer in the past. During skin cancer screenings at Van Dyke Yun Dermatology, one of our skilled dermatologists will check your entire body for birthmarks, moles, and any other abnormal growths. We might create a map of spots to indicate regions of concern and to help us identify new growths at future checks. Following your examination, we will review your results and any recommended actions. From there, we'll schedule your next appointment. In cases where we need to biopsy a suspicious area, we will numb the area and shave off a small sample to send to a pathology lab for evaluation. We will do our best to minimize the appearance of scarring and take the smallest skin sample possible during the biopsy. After our team receives the pathology report, you'll be contacted to hear the results.

Knowing your risk and how to detect early signs of skin cancer are two important keys to the successful treatment of skin cancer. If you're due for an annual skin exam, then contact Van Dyke Yun Dermatology in Studio City, CA. Whether you are already visiting our dermatologists for other treatments, are at a greater risk for developing skin cancer, or you have questions about a strange growth on your skin, schedule a skin cancer screening with Dr. Greg Van Dyke or Dr. Jasmine Yun today.