Melanoma in San Diego, CA
Melanoma is a very rare and very dangerous form of skin cancer. With the help of dermatologist, Dr. Faryal Siddiqui, La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic is proud to offer treatments for melanoma to men and women in San Diego, Encinitas, La Mesa, El Cajon, and surrounding areas of California.
What is Melanoma?
Melanoma is the rarest, but also most dangerous, form of skin cancer. Most patients are able to recognize melanoma as moles or marks that are abnormally shaped and very dark in color. Although it only affects about one percent of the population, melanoma accounts for most of the deaths caused by skin cancer in the U.S. Thankfully, melanoma can be fully treated and cured if caught early enough. For this reason, we recommend coming in for annual full-body skin exams with Dr. Siddiqui.
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What Causes Melanoma?
Melanoma is caused by damage to the DNA of melanocytes or the pigment-making cells within the skin. While normal melanocytes die off and get replaced with new, healthy cells, patients with melanoma experience an overgrowth of these skin cells. Melanoma is most commonly caused by a combination of genetic factors and overexposure to UV light. Patients who have a family history of skin cancer and spend long periods of time out in the sun without skin protection may be at a higher risk of developing melanoma throughout their lifetime.
How Do I Know if I Have Melanoma?
Early signs of melanoma include a mole changing in shape or size, or the development of an entirely new growth. While melanoma can be dark brown, black, pink, or white in color, other signs your mole may be malignant include:
- Irregular shape
- Irregular borders
- Itchiness
- Bleeding
- Growth to larger than a quarter in size
If you believe you have melanoma, we encourage you to come in for a private consultation with Dr. Siddiqui at your earliest convenience. We’ll be happy to sit down with you, evaluate your skin, and determine whether your lesion should be biopsied for malignancy.
How is Melanoma Treated?
Because everyone’s body is different, each melanoma treatment will be tailored to the patient. Treatment for your melanoma may include excision of the mole. During your private consultation, Dr. Siddiqui will develop a personalized treatment plan to help you treat your melanoma and achieve the beautiful, healthy skin you deserve.
How Much Do Melanoma Treatments Cost?
The cost of your melanoma treatments will vary depending on the extent of treatment needed to achieve your desired results. La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic accepts coverage from most insurance plans. To get a more accurate estimate of your treatment cost, we encourage you to come in for a private consultation.
Don’t let your abnormal moles go unchecked. To learn more about melanoma treatments for men and women in San Diego, Encinitas, La Mesa, El Cajon, and surrounding areas of California, contact us at La Jolla Cosmetic Laser Clinic today to schedule a consultation.