Skin Cancer
Overview
Cancer is not synonymous with tumors. Neither all cancer cause tumor nor all tumors are cancerous.
Three most common skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. All three are directly related to sun exposure and lighter skin colour, with the risk being proportionate to increasing age. The other risk factors include exposure to radiations, certain chemicals, intake of photosensitizing drugs, reduced immunity, long-standing burn scar or wound, presence of multiple abnormal moles, and personal or family history of skin cancer. The incidence is higher in fair skin people, but darker skin complexion is not immune to skin cancers, particularly basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma are fairly common in all skin tones.
All three types i.e. basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, most often occur on sun-exposed areas such as the face, neck, and hands, although less frequently, can also occur on covered areas of the body, as well as in the mouth and genital areas (provide links for the mouth and genital ulcer).
Melanoma particularly is uncommon in people with dark skin, however, when it occurs in these people, it tends to involve soles, palm, finger, and toes.
Both macroscopic and microscopic images are taken to detail the examination of hair at the level of its roots. The microscopic hair images can further be measured and evaluated exactly. This novel diagnostic tool is quite patient-friendly, being non-invasive, fast, and painless, i.e. without painful hair extraction. It aids the treating physician in diagnosing various hair disorders. At Sparsh Skin Clinic, we are using the FotoFinder Videodermoscope, which is a German technology and a state-of-the-art diagnostics in the field of hair. FotoFinder is represented around the world, including the USA, Italy, Spain, and UK.
‘Trichoscan’ refers to the objective analysis of AGA, wherein hair densities, hair shaft diameter, and percentage of miniaturized (vellus) hairs are compared between the affected and unaffected areas of the scalp. This is an excellent tool to evaluate baseline parameters before initiating treatment and also helps in evaluating the response to treatment on follow-up. This is somewhat similar to getting a Liver function test done in your blood sample, wherein you get a numerical assessment of the liver; in Trichoscan, we get the numerical assessment for hairs.