Facial Treatment

Treating Facial Skin Cancer

Our faces are the most significant part of our body, yet are often exposed to skin cancer causing UV rays from the sun.

Whilst complete removal of tumourous tissue must be the ultimate goal in facial skin cancer management, there is a further need. Cosmetic and functional outcomes are more important in this area than anywhere else.

Good solutions minimise psychological effects and maintain core parts of a normal life. They should be integral to diagnosis, planning and treatment, for a condition which has increased in recent times.

The Primary Issues

Melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer can appear on the face, scalp, ears, or neck. This has a notable capacity to spread to other areas and may be fatal if untreated, although is a less common form of skin cancer.

Non melanoma skin cancers are the most common cancer in the UK and the face is the prevalent area for them to appear. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is most often seen, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) next in line.

BCCs rarely spread to other parts of the body, although they can damage nearby tissue structures. SCCs tend to be more aggresive, with a 5% chance of invading lymph nodes and a higher tendency to spread locally.

These outcomes suggest the importance of early intervention and this is so vital in helping to preserve the facial structure. Suspecting you have skin cancer and waiting to see how this develops is not helpful.