Conditions & Treatments

Learn more about the types of skin cancer and your treatment options at Henry Ford.

Skin cancer is common. If we detect it and treat it early, it typically is curable. See a dermatologist to have your skin checked out -- it may make the difference between healthy skin and cancer recurrence.

Our skin cancer team at Henry Ford treats a wide range of skin cancers and pre-cancerous skin conditions.

Skin cancers and conditions we treat

• Basal cell carcinoma: This most common type of skin cancer rarely spreads. It affects more men than women.
• Squamous cell carcinoma: This is the second most common type of skin cancer. It tends to affect people over 55.
• Melanoma: This is the third most common skin cancer. It is also the most serious.
• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: This is a rare but serious cancer that requires specialized treatment. Our clinic sees more patients than any other clinic in Michigan.
• Keratosis: This pre-cancerous condition is commonly known as age spots or sun spots.
• Pigmented lesions: These skin spots or growths are caused by the cells that produce pigments in the skin. Our clinic is the first of its kind in Michigan.

Surgical skin cancer treatments

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma that require surgery often can be treated with Mohs surgery. During this skin-sparing procedure, we remove as little healthy tissue as possible when we take off cancerous moles or lesions. We’re working toward perfecting Mohs surgery for melanoma treatment, too.

We also offer wide local excision surgery. This is the most common melanoma treatment. In this procedure, we remove the cancerous lesion and some of the healthy tissue around it. This helps ensure we remove as many cancerous cells as possible.

Non-surgical skin cancer treatments

Some basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and other lesions can be treated with creams or ointments. Other options include cryotherapy, where the lesion is frozen off, or we can remove it with photodynamic therapy.

We also may recommend additional treatment depending on the stage of your cancer. These treatments can help reduce the risk of your cancer coming back:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Immunotherapy

Recommendations after skin cancer treatment

After skin cancer treatment, it’s important to avoid indoor tanning and practice sun safety to reduce your risk for another skin cancer.

We recommend an annual professional skin cancer screening and regular skin self-examinations. Keep an eye out for changes to existing moles and lesions, and let your doctor know if new or suspicious spots develop.

Treatment at our Pigmented Lesions Clinic

We refer people at high-risk for developing cancer again to our Pigmented Lesions Clinic for follow-up and monitoring. Our dermatologists use a special tool called a dermatoscope to take detailed pictures of your moles and lesions. That way, we can monitor changes over time and catch any recurring cancers at an early stage.