Because the sun is the leading cause of melanoma, sun protection is extremely important, but it can be more difficult to keep the scalp safe than other parts of the skin. Wearing a hat, bandana, or other head coverings can help.
If you have a part in your hair, are balding, or otherwise have large areas of the exposed scalp, you should apply sunscreen. One of the easiest solutions is to minimize your time out in the sun whenever possible. Use flashlights and mirrors as needed to take a closer look at any hard to see areas. You should also visit your dermatologist routinely for a professional skin exam.
In addition to melanoma, other forms of skin cancer can also develop on the scalp, including the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal, and squamous cell carcinoma. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer. It can be very damaging to the skin it affects, but it very rarely metastasizes.
Basal cell carcinoma tumors have a variety of appearances from white or silvery bumps with a waxy texture to highly visible blood vessels. These lesions may be flesh-toned, brown, or black in color. Squamous cell carcinoma is also a common form of skin cancer on the scalp. It is more likely to spread than basal cell carcinoma, but it tends to evolve slowly. Dermatology Partners. You can get started scheduling your appointment by using our simple online request form.
Skin cancer is a serious health risk, and while many forms of skin cancer are very no Read More. Lee's Summit, Missouri - U. Dermatology Partners is pleased to welcome Board-Certif Scottsdale, Arizona - U. Dermatology Partners is pleased to welcome Board-Certified No matter how the spot is found, skin cancer diagnosis will happen roughly the same way.
First, your doctor will ask you about your family history of cancer, if you spend a lot of time in the sun, use protection in the sun, and if you use tanning beds. Then your doctor will do a skin exam to look more closely at the lesion and determine if you need further testing. This testing can tell your doctor if you have cancer, and if you do, what type. A biopsy might be enough to completely remove a small cancerous growth, especially basal cell carcinoma.
If the spot is cancerous but not basal cell carcinoma, your doctor might recommend more testing to see if it has spread. This will usually include imaging tests of lymph nodes in your head and neck.
Potential treatments for skin cancer on your scalp include:. In general, basal cell carcinoma is very treatable — and often curable — if caught early.
However, basal carcinoma on the scalp is often harder to treat than other basal cell carcinomas. They are also more likely to recur after being treated. The five-year recurrence rate for scalp basal cell carcinomas treated with curettage and electrodesiccation — one of the most commonly used treatments — is approximately five to 23 percent depending on how big the carcinoma was.
The overall five-year survival rate for squamous cell carcinoma on the scalp is 59 percent. Approximately 11 percent have a local recurrence on the scalp and 7 percent have a regional recurrence in nearby lymph nodes within five years. The median survival time from diagnosis for melanoma on the scalp is The five-year recurrence-free survival rate for melanoma on the scalp is 45 percent, versus Skin cancer can happen on any part of your skin, including your scalp.
Avoid the sun as much as possible, and wear a hat or head covering when you do go out in the sun. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. There are various types of skin cancer, melanoma being the most serious type. Learn how…. Skin lumps are any areas of abnormally raised skin. Melanoma is also more likely than other skin cancers to spread, and may be harder to control. Melanomas usually present as an abnormal mole or growth on the skin.
Many people have normal moles that are small, even, tan or brown in color, round or oval, and either flat or raised. Melanoma arises from abnormal melanocytes, or pigment cells, that become cancerous. These are usually brown or black in color because of melanin production by melanocytes.
Melanomas may also have the appearance of a wart, crusty spot, ulcer, mole or sore. It may or may not bleed or be painful. If you have a preexisting mole, any change in the characteristics of this spot — such as a raised or irregular border, irregular shape, change in color, increase in size, itching or bleeding — is a warning sign of melanoma. Sometimes the first sign of head and neck melanoma is an enlarged lymph node in the neck. Normal moles in the head and neck often resemble each other.
Any mole that is new or looks different from the others should be evaluated. Regular self-examination will help you determine if a mole is new or changing. Mucosal melanoma of the head and neck most commonly arises in the sinonasal tract or oral cavity. It can present as discoloration in the mouth; a painless, bleeding mass; ulceration; ill-fitting dentures; nasal obstruction, particularly if on one side; or frequent nose bleeds. Our head and neck surgeons and speech language pathologists take a proactive approach to cancer treatment.
Meet the Johns Hopkins specialists who will work closely with you during your journey. Diagnosis is made by clinical exam and a biopsy. Melanoma is diagnosed by the presence of abnormal melanocytes. Melanoma of the skin is staged based on how deeply it invades the skin layers and whether or not it has spread. A superficial or shave biopsy will not provide the accurate staging information used to guide treatment. The depth of invasion determines the risk of spread to lymph nodes or other organs.
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