Laser treatment for skin cancer is safe and non-invasive. It effectively removes surface skin cancers. This method also provides excellent cosmetic results.
The process uses a fractional laser on the area. Then, a cream is applied. Finally, the area is exposed to special red light. This treatment often leads to no scarring.
Superficial skin cancers are confined to the top layers of the skin. Doctors traditionally treat these cancers surgically. However, scarring is associated with surgery and it can prove difficult in some circumstances. We can group non-surgical Skin Cancer treatments into two main categories.
Topical creams can be prescribed for treatment of superficial skin cancers. Many creams to treat superficial skin cancers are available, and the average treatment lasts about 6 weeks.
They have a long application time, between 6-8 weeks, and long downtime of 8-10 weeks. In addition, they are not as effective as Skin Cancer Laser treatment.
Laser surgery for skin cancer is safe and effective. It removes surface skin cancers and offers good cosmetic results.
The process includes using a fractional laser on the area. Next, a cream is applied. Finally, the area is exposed to special red light. The treatment takes 30 minutes and is completely safe.
The cream's active ingredient is taken in by cancer cells. When the cells are exposed to red light, a chemical reaction occurs that destroys them. Recovery time varies from a few days up to two weeks.
Schedule a consultation with one of our skin cancer specialists to explore both surgical and non-surgical treatment options for your condition.
In early non-melanoma skin cancers, efficacy of removal equates to approximately 80-95%.
Special tape will cover small treated skin cancer areas for 48-72 hours. This is to avoid prolonged activation of the topical creams applied and a more extreme, lengthier recovery period.
After the appointment, you may feel tight, stinging, and have redness like sunburn in the treated areas. This will be more apparent in areas of increased damage. This can progress to areas of scaly, red, scabbed areas, which can take 2+ weeks to heal in some instances.
Avoid picking these lesions in the coming weeks to prevent scarring. Plan your appointment carefully to avoid important events, as downtime can be significant for some people.
You will leave your appointment with treated areas covered by micropore tapes. These are to remain in place for the next 48-72 hours. We will remove the tape after 2-3 days. You will then apply a provided ointment for the next 2 weeks.
When we surgically remove skin cancers, we send the tissue sample to pathology. Doctors do this to check the margins and confirm that they have completely removed the cancer. The downside to this is, it leaves a scar.
Laser Surgery can remove or greatly reduce the size of skin cancer. However, This procedure does not allow for taking tissue samples.
This means that there is no way to test if all the cancer has been completely removed. We then rely on doctor examinations 3 months following treatment to check for signs of residual skin cancers. In many instances, this procedure avoids surgery and is scarless.
Patients generally do not consider skin cancer laser treatment at QC skin cancer & laser clinic to be painful. Doctors typically administer local anesthetic to numb the area they are treating before performing the procedure. Patients may feel some discomfort or a sensation of heat during the procedure, but it is usually well-tolerated.
After treatment, patients may experience some redness, swelling, or mild pain. This can usually be managed with over the counter painkillers.
