Learn about the various types of skin cancer treatments recommended by a board-certified dermatologist near Denver, Colorado

A skin cancer diagnosis brings plenty of questions, but treatment comes in many forms, and a dermatologist selects an approach according to the cancer type, size, depth, location, and risk of returning. Understanding these options makes the conversation feel far less intimidating, so here is a friendly overview of the treatments commonly used for basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and selected precancerous growths.

1. Standard surgical excision.

During a standard excision, the physician removes the visible tumor along with a measured border of normal-looking skin, then sends the tissue to a laboratory for examination. This widely used treatment works for many basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and melanomas, although the required margin and follow-up plan depend on the diagnosis.

2. Mohs micrographic surgery.

Mohs surgery removes skin cancer one thin layer at a time while the surgeon examines each layer under a microscope, continuing until the margins show no remaining cancer cells. This precise process preserves as much healthy tissue as possible, making it especially valuable for high-risk tumors or cancers on the face, ears, hands, and other delicate areas.

Video Transcript

As a board-certified dermatologist at Beyond Skin Dermatology, I get that having skin cancer surgery is a big deal, and you might be worried about how it’s going to affect your everyday life while you’re getting better.

First off, it’s worth mentioning that how long it takes to recover can change depending on what kind of surgery you have and how involved it is.

Usually, most folks can get back to their regular routine within a few days after the surgery, but we do recommend that you steer clear of any heavy-duty activities and keep the area that was treated out of direct sunlight until it’s totally healed up.

You could feel some pain, swelling, or see some redness around where the surgery was done. This is all part of the body’s natural healing process. Over-the-counter pain relievers are normally enough to handle any pain. If the pain keeps up, or if you see signs of infection, like more redness, swelling, or fluid coming out, you should get in touch with us right away at (720) 213-4679.

Taking care of your wound is really important while you’re recovering.

We’ll give you detailed instructions on how to do this, which might include washing the area with gentle soap and water, putting on a prescribed cream, and changing bandages.

It’s also really important to make sure you come to all your follow-up appointments so we can keep an eye on how you’re healing and deal with any issues straight away.

While the physical effects on your daily life are usually pretty small, it’s also key to think about the emotional side of getting better. It’s normal to feel nervous or worried after surgery. Just know that our team at Beyond Skin Dermatology is here to help you all throughout your recovery and beyond.

Remember, finding and treating skin cancer early is the key to a good outcome. We’re proud to offer skin cancer surgery to our patients in Denver, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Parker, Centennial, and Aurora, Colorado.

If you have any more questions about skin cancer surgery or getting better afterwards, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

3. Curettage and electrodissection.

For certain small, low-risk, superficial cancers, the dermatologist scrapes away abnormal tissue with a spoon-shaped instrument called a curette and uses an electric current to destroy remaining cancer cells. The treatment usually repeats in several cycles during one appointment, although tumor type, location, and growth pattern determine whether this method fits the situation.

4. Topical prescription medication.

Some superficial basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas in situ respond to prescription creams applied directly to the affected skin, including medicines that destroy abnormal cells or stimulate a local immune response. Topical therapy avoids an incision, but success depends on careful patient selection, consistent application, expected inflammation during treatment, and scheduled follow-up examinations.

5. Cryosurgery or photodynamic therapy.

Cryosurgery uses intense cold to freeze and destroy selected abnormal cells, while photodynamic therapy combines a light-sensitive medication with a specific light source to target treated tissue. Our dermatologist uses these approaches more often for precancerous actinic keratoses and carefully selected superficial cancers, since deeper or aggressive tumors generally require a different strategy.

6. Radiation therapy.

Radiation directs high-energy beams toward cancer cells and offers an alternative when surgery presents substantial challenges because of tumor location, medical history, or overall health. Treatment usually takes place over multiple visits, and the care team weighs long-term skin changes, healing, recurrence risk, and nearby sensitive structures before recommending this route.

7. Immunotherapy and targeted medicine.

Advanced or metastatic skin cancers sometimes require medicine that reaches the entire body, including immunotherapy that helps the immune system recognize cancer or targeted treatment that blocks specific tumor-growth signals. Medical oncologists and board-certified dermatologists coordinate these therapies according to the cancer subtype, molecular features, previous treatment, and overall health.

Find a treatment plan designed around you and your needs!

When you need a skin cancer dermatologist in Colorado, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sang Kim and his team at Beyond Skin Dermatology provide careful evaluation and personalized skin cancer treatment in the Denver, Colorado area. Schedule a consultation at 1444 S Potomac Street, Suite 240, in Aurora, Colorado, by calling (720) 213-4679.

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