Skin Cancer Specialist

There are several different types of skin cancer, and most are highly treatable. Others can be more serious however, especially if left untreated, and early skin cancer screening is crucial. 

It’s always a good idea to be aware of any changes to your skin - whether you wish to have regular mole mapping or have noticed any unusual changes to your skin, we are here to help.

Our team of Consultant Dermatologists are leading specialists in their field and provide highly skilled diagnosis of skin symptoms and expert treatment for all types of skin cancer.

What are the different skin cancer types?

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer in the UK, accounting for 90% of all skin cancers, and is rarely life threatening. It’s unconnected to moles, and is usually very slow growing. 

Symptoms include:

• A scab that bleeds and doesn’t heal properly
• A new lump on your skin
• A red scaly mark
• A lump with a translucent rim

Treatment is usually a simple surgical removal and takes just a few minutes.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This is the second most common form of skin cancer and is usually found on areas of the body that are most routinely exposed to the sun, such as your head, ears, neck and backs of your hands.

It’s very treatable, but can grow fast and spread to other parts of the body, so it’s important to catch it early.  

Symptoms vary greatly but can include:

• A scaly or crusty area of skin with a red inflamed base
• A lump with a red, inflamed base
• Lesions that are tender or painful

Again, treatment is usually a straightforward surgical removal of the cancer, but it can be more complex if the disease has spread.

Melanoma

Melanoma is the most recognised form of skin cancer, although it only accounts for around 1% of all skin cancers. It can develop anywhere on your body, starting in a mole or on other parts of your skin. It typically appears on the chest and back in men and on the legs in women.

Melanoma is very treatable but it can spread quickly and can eventually become life threatening, so it’s important that it’s diagnosed early. 

The main symptoms are:

• A mole that has changed in size, shape or colour
• A mole that is itchy, painful, bleeding or inflamed
• A new or unusual mark or lesion on your skin
• A dark area under your nail that is not due to injury (usually darker skinned people)

Treatment is usually a minor surgery to remove the cancer. However, if it has spread you may need more extensive surgery or other forms of treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Actinic Keratoses

Actinic keratoses are patches of sun damaged skin lesions. They are not cancerous but without treatment there is a possibility they can evolve into squamous cell carcinoma.

Symptoms include:

• Rough scaly patches of skin
• Bumps on the face ears, scalp and hands

Treatment includes prescription creams and gels, minor surgical removal or cryotherapy (freezing). However, careful monitoring may be recommended instead. 

What causes skin cancer?

Most skin cancers are caused by exposure to the sun or to sunbeds – either over a long period of time, or through short bursts of intense sun exposure, particularly if you’ve been sunburnt. Ultraviolet (UV) light can lead to mutations in the DNA of your skin cells, which causes them to grow uncontrollably and eventually become cancerous. This can begin many years before the cancer develops.

You are also more likely to get skin cancer if you:

• Used sunbeds or sunlamps a lot
• Have had a lot of sun exposure, through working outdoors or sunbathing
• Have been sunburnt a lot in the past
• Have a large number of moles or freckles
• Have pale skin that burns easily
• Have blue or green eyes
• Have a family history of skin cancer
• Have a weakened immune system

People with black or brown skin have a lower chance of developing skin cancer but may still get it.

How can you protect yourself from skin sancer?

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from skin cancer, or to catch it early, when it is more likely to be easily treatable. This includes the following:

• Regular self checks: stand in front of a mirror and check your skin from top to toe, or ask your partner to do so, looking for anything unusual or suspicious
• Check your moles: look for any new moles or a change in appearance, size or colour of any existing ones. If you’re unsure of what to look for, the ABCDE system, devised by dermatologists, is a helpful guide
• Mole mapping: for people with a large amount of moles we provide state of the art AI mole screening, overseen by a Consultant Dermatologist. Carried out regularly, this can accurately determine if there have been any changes to your skin
• Cover your skin: always cover your skin and wear a hat if you are going out in the sun
• Use sunscreen: use a high SPF sunscreen – at least factor 30 – when you are in the sun, and reapply every 2 hours or immediately after swimming

How do you diagnose skin cancer?

If you have noticed any worrying growths, spots or lesions on your skin, or any changes to your moles, it’s important that they are examined by a dermatologist as quickly as possible.

We have a team of skin cancer specialists who can carry out a clinical consultation, examining the shape, size, colour, location and texture of the affected area of your skin. They will also look to see if there is any inflammation, bleeding or dry crusted areas.

If our Consultant Dermatologists suspect you have skin cancer they may perform a biopsy  – this simple and safe procedure involves surgically removing the cancerous area (or a section of it) and sending it to a lab for testing.

What is the treatment for skin cancer?

Unlike many other cancers, skin cancer is often straightforward to treat – especially if diagnosed early – and treatment is usually successful.

As mentioned earlier, in many cases, we often carry out skin cancer treatment at the same time as the biopsy. This involves surgically removing the suspicious area for lab testing. We then typically remove a small section of the healthy surrounding skin, and close the site with a few stitches.

Other treatment options include:

• Mole removal: if melanoma is detected early in a mole, it can be removed and microscopic analysis carried out afterwards, often on the same day
• Mohs micrographic surgery: for harder to reach cancers, such as in the neck or ears, the growth is removed layer by layer and examined each time under a microscope. The process is repeated until the whole area is free of cancer
• Curettage: the growth is scraped away and the skin is heat sealed
• Cryotherapy: the cancer is frozen and destroyed using liquid nitrogen
• Photodynamic therapy: a form of targetted light therapy

If your cancer has spread, you may need more specialised treatment, such as targeted radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy. Our Consultant Dermatologists will be able to support and guide you, order further tests and refer you for specialist treatment if needed.

Why choose The Medical Chambers Kensington for your skin cancer treatment?

Our team of Consultant Dermatologists include some of the leading skin cancer specialists in London, and have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating melanoma, squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas.

They have exceptional clinical skills and research skills and are at the forefront of cutting edge research.

We provide the following as standard:

• World class skin cancer care – expertise in all types of the disease and in related conditions
• Extensive experience in leading London NHS Trusts
• Immediate appointments – no long waiting times
• Detailed clinical consultations, often with same day treatment
• Warm and empathetic care, with plenty of time for discussion and questions
• Cutting edge technology, including AI mole mapping and digital scanning
• Fast turnaround lab testing, to promptly confirm your diagnosis, so we can create a personalised treatment plan according to your condition
• Referrals to leading specialists for further treatment if necessary

Visiting our London clinic

Our specialist Consultant Dermatology team is here to support you with expert screening, diagnosis and treatment for skin cancer symptoms. If you would like to find out more, please make an appointment online or call 020 7244 4200.