Irvine, CA dermatologist urges prompt attention to concerning lesions suspected as melanoma

A “lesion” describes any tissue irregularity. Most of the time changes you may notice with your skin are harmless or may be easily treated with store-bought products. Lesions suspected as melanoma require prompt attention from skin specialists like Dr. Arta Farshidi. Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer. The earlier Dr. Farshidi can accurately diagnose the cause of your skin changes, the sooner treatment can begin; increasing the odds that treatment will be successful.

Is it a melanoma lesion?

The scientific term for the pigment that gives your skin its color is “melanin.” When your skin is exposed to Ultraviolet rays from the sun or tanning beds, the production of melanin increases. As melanin clumps together it can appear as a suntan or as areas that are darker than the surrounding skin. These often brown splotches are commonly known as “age spots,” or “liver spots,” though they can arise in younger people with sun damage and have nothing to do with liver function. Most instances of this discoloration are harmless.

Melanoma begins in the cells that make melanin. While no other skin cancers are as deadly as melanoma, it is almost always treatable if detected and addressed early with proper therapeutic approaches. It’s important to be on the lookout for the following signs, which might suggest your lesions are actually melanoma:

• Dark spots stand out as they are bigger than surrounding discoloration
• Areas that contain more than a single color
• Irregularly-shaped or scalloped edges
• Spots where the left side looks different than the right side

Your concerning spot may itch. By the time it begins to bleed or ulcerate, the cancer may have progressed. Don’t wait until changes occur to schedule an appointment with Dr. Farshidi. Ideally, during regularly scheduled skin checks, the professionals at Arta Dermatology will identify any concerning areas and take tissue samples, as necessary. If the analysis of the sample comes back with a melanoma diagnosis it is by no means a death sentence.

Arta Dermatology offers a number of treatment options including: surgical excision and Mohs Micrographic Surgery through a partnering specialist in this treatment. Mohs is widely considered the gold standard for the most common skin cancers; such as Basal Cell and Squamous Cell, but it is also gaining acceptance as a precise treatment for melanoma.

Waiting with potential melanoma lesions should not be an option for Irvine, CA area patients. Call (949) 531-7111 to schedule a skin health assessment.