Contact a dermatologist, this condition is serious and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. Every year, millions of people learn that they have BCC.
BCCs can look like open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, scars or growths with slightly elevated, rolled edges and/or a central indentation.
At times, BCCs may ooze, crust, itch or bleed.
The lesions commonly arise in sun-exposed areas of the body.
In patients with darker skin, about half of BCCs are pigmented (meaning brown in color).
When detected early, most BCCs can be treated and cured.
Prompt treatment is vital, because as the tumor grows, it becomes more dangerous and potentially disfiguring, requiring more extensive treatment.
Certain rare, aggressive forms can be fatal if not treated promptly.
If you’ve been diagnosed with a small or early BCC, a number of effective treatments can usually be performed on an outpatient basis, using a local anesthetic with minimal pain.
Afterwards, most wounds can heal naturally, leaving minimal scarring.