Summer is just around the corner and that means more outside time with the sun! We have all been waiting for this, but we still need to be cautious of the dangers that come with sun exposure including sunburns. What is a Sunburn? A sunburn is simply that – a burn that comes from the […]
Skin cancer can come in many shapes and sizes. The most common form of skin cancer is Basal Cell Carcinoma. Most people see these start to form when they spend lots of time in the sun or in a tanning bed. Most are treatable and don’t spread if caught in time. It is important […]
One of the many fantastic things about the great state of Texas is all of the sunshine that we get here. Because of all that wonderful sun, it should be no surprise that skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. In just this year alone, 2 million Americans will get diagnosed with skin […]
Everyone wants to feel comfortable with their skin, and look for methods and treatments to help achieve that. Treatments such as facelifts, chemical peels, and more can be a temporary solution, but seeing a dermatologist who is focused on your skin can be a long-lasting answer to your problem. Dr. Anthony J. Perri has dedicated […]
While many like to have fun in the sun during the summer, prepping and treating your skin can become an afterthought, leaving painful sunburns to follow. A sunburn is the reddening, inflammation, and, in severe cases, blistering and peeling of the skin caused by overexposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun or sunlamps. The […]
While it’s always important to have an annual skin cancer screening, in between your appointments with dermatologist Dr. Perri, skin cancers may show telltale signs that something isn’t right. Here is a list of signs and symptoms that you may have skin cancer. If you are showing any or all of these warning signs, it’s […]
Do you know the top 10 risk factors of skin cancer? Like many residents who visit Dr. Perri for an annual skin cancer screening, you may be shocked to learn that you have several risk factors and don’t even know it. Here is a list of the top 10 risks for developing skin cancer to […]
A skin cancer screening can save your life – literally. According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every single day. Early detection of the 3 most common types of skin cancer by dermatologist Dr. Perri of Perri Dermatology is key to diagnosing skin cancer before it spreads. […]
You’ve noticed that a mole on your arm has changed quite a bit over the past year since your last skin cancer screening, and you’re beginning to get nervous. How can you tell if it’s skin cancer? And how will a dermatologist go about making a diagnosis? The ABCDEs of Skin Cancer What makes a […]
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lifetime. Skin cancer is the result of mutations in the DNA of skin cells; the mutations cause a person’s skin cells to multiply rapidly and form cancer cells. What causes these mutations to occur? Some skin cancers may be the result of […]
Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that, if not caught early, can be deadly. While Melanoma only accounts for 5% of skin cancer diagnoses, it’s responsible for 75% of skin cancer deaths. Dermatologist Dr. Perri first became interested in the field of dermatology when an early Melanoma diagnosis saved his father’s life. Dr. […]
Dr. Perri’s interest in dermatology began when an early diagnosis of Melanoma saved his father’s life. Since then, Dr. Perri has helped thousands of patients perform skin cancer screenings, and treat skin cancers including Melanoma, Basal Cell, and Squamous Cell. Whether you have risk factors for skin cancer such as a family history of skin […]
With millions of new skin cancer cases diagnosed every year and continual sun exposure being its most common cause, it’s understandable for concerns to arise among residents. Skin checks by a Board Certified dermatologist like Dr. Perri are the best way to make sure you have no reason for concern if you discover an abnormal […]
In the US, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type, with over 2 million new cases expected yearly. With so many lives being affected by this disease all the time, it’s no wonder it’s on the minds of people all over the nation. It’s commonly known that early diagnosis is the key to successful […]
Skin cancer is a condition that affects millions of new lives every year. Being the most prevalent form of cancer in the US, you would be hard pressed to find someone who didn’t at least know another who has battled against this disease. Dr. Perri is never surprised when residents ask about signs and symptoms […]
If you find yourself with a questionable mole, lump, or other growth on your skin, it may be necessary to perform a skin cancer biopsy. Patients often want to know more about the procedure, such as how to prepare, and what it involves, so they can help put their minds at ease. Right off the […]
Most people out there have probably heard of melanoma. Despite its ownership of a relatively small percentage of total skin cancer occurrences, it accounts for over 75% of all skin cancer related deaths, making it by far the most deadly. But melanoma is only one of several types of skin cancer that, combined, account for […]
With over 2 million new cases of skin cancer being diagnosed every year, it’s no surprise that getting checked is on a lot of people’s minds. Especially here in Texas, where being in the sun is just part everyday life, more and more people are thinking about having a skin cancer screening. Residents sometimes think […]
Soft Tissue Melanoma is a rare cancer that is not commonly encountered in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Also called clear cell sarcomas, Soft Tissue Melanomas are usually located below the skin attached to fascia and muscle tendons. Clinically, Soft Tissue Melanomas appear as deep nodules underneath the skin. The foot and ankle are the […]
Amelanotic Melanoma is a rare variant of melanoma that I occasionally encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Amelanotic Melanoma “breaks the rule” of other melanomas in that it does not have clinically apparent pigment so these melanomas do not have the characteristic black, brown or blue coloration. Thus, detection of […]
Desmoplastic Melanoma is a type of melanoma that I occasionally encounter in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Clinically, a Desmoplastic Melanoma does not have the typical features seen in a classic melanoma as its histopathology differs in that it has a more scar like pattern, thus its clinical appearance may be that […]
Polypoid Melanoma is a rare subtype of melanoma that I occasionally encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Polypoid Melanoma is a clinical variant of a Nodular Melanoma. It appears as a Nodular Melanoma but has a narrow stalk at the base attaching it to the skin surface. Although most Polypoid […]
Mucosal Melanoma is a rare type of melanoma which occurs in the mucosa of the oral cavity, vulvar region, nasal mucosa or the anal area that I occasionally encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Mucosal Melanomas begin with a horizontal (radial) phase that is in situ and hasn’t become invasive. However, due to the […]
Nodular Melanoma is a subtype of melanoma which I occasionally encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Nodular Melanoma is very aggressive as it arises without a horizontal (radial phase) so it has no in situ component. Thus, it is invasive from its inception; however, it is still of utmost importance to […]
Acral Lentiginous Melanoma is a subtype of melanoma that I encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Acral Lentiginous Melanoma is the most common subtype affecting darker skinned patients and Asians and occurs at sites such as the hands, feet and nail unit. The thumb and great toe are the most […]
Superficial Spreading Melanoma is a subtype of melanoma that I encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Superficial Spreading Melanoma can occur with almost equal frequency on both sun damaged and sun protected skin. Clinically, a Superficial Spreading Melanoma is a flat pigmented lesion that has multiple different colors throughout such […]
Lentigo Maligna is a subtype of Melanoma that I commonly encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Lentigo Maligna typically occurs on sun-exposed areas such as the face. Clinically, a Lentigo Maligna appears as a brown/black enlarging flat patch with multiple colors and irregular edges. Fortunately, Lentigo Maligna has a prolonged […]
Melanoma is a very lethal skin cancer that I frequently encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology clinics. Melanomas arise from melanocytes which are pigment producing cells that can become cancerous. The majority of Melanomas arise from the melanocytes found at the dermoepidermal junction which is in the upper portion of the […]
Zoon’s Balanitis, also called Balanitis Plasmacellularis, is not malignant or pre-malignant but mimics the clinical appearance of Erythroplasia of Queyrat, which is Squamous Cell Cancer in situ of the glans penis. I occasionally encounter Zoon’s Balanitis in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Zoon’s Balanitis begins with plasma cell inflammation in the glans […]
Squamous Cell Cancer is one of the most common skin cancers that I treat in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. In most cases involving Squamous Cell Cancer, I recommend and perform surgical excision in the dermatology clinic. A 5mm surgical margin of clinically appearing normal skin around the cancer is recommended with […]
Squamous Cell Cancer is considered a “worse” cancer than Basal Cell Cancer as it has a higher rate of metastasis, however those Squamous Cell Cancers detected at an early stage and size rarely metastasize and behave very similar to the more indolent Basal Cell Cancer. The anatomic location of a Squamous Cell Cancer effects the likelihood of […]
Squamous Cell Cancer in Situ, also called Bowen’s disease, is one of the most common skin diseases I encounter in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Bowen’s disease occurs when the cancer cells are confined to the epidermis (top most layer of skin) and have not invaded into the dermis (second layer of […]
Erythroplasia of Queyrat is Squamous Cell Cancer in Situ of the glans penis and I encounter it occasionally in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology clinics. Erythroplasia of Queyrat is caused by high risk HPV types (16,18,31,35). Clinically, Erythroplasia of Queyrat appears as red velvety moist smooth plaques and is most common in uncircumcised men over […]
Keratoacanthoma Centrifugum Marginatum is a very rare variant of Keratoacanthomas that I rarely encounter in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Keratoacanthoma Centrifugum Marginatum begins as scaly nodule which gradually enlarges in an annular configuration by extending peripherally in all directions. As the Keratoacanthoma expands, the center resolves with atrophy of the skin. […]
Generalized Eruptive Keratoacanthomas, also called Gryzbowski’s Disease, is a very rare sporadic disease with no hereditary component that I have occasionally encountered in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Patients with Generalized Eruptive Keratacanthomas typically present with the first Keratoacanthomas in their 40’s and 50’s. Ultimately, patients with Generalized Eruptive Keratoacanthomas may develop […]
Multiple Keratoacanthomas, also called Ferguson-Smith Type of Multiple Self-Healing Keratoacanthomas, are identical clinically and histologically with the Solitary Keratoacanthoma type and I occasionally encounter the Multiple Keratoacanthomas in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Multiple Keratoacanthomas are usually hereditary and originated in two large Scottish families. Patients begin developing Multiple Keratoacanthomas in their 20’s and usually three to […]
Keratoacanthomas are a very common type of Squamous Cell Cancer that I encounter in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology clinics. There are four main types of Keratoacanthoma: Solitary Keratoacanthoma, Multiple Keratoacanthoma, Eruptive Keratoacanthoma, Keratoacanthoma Centrifugum Marginatum. In the past, some dermatologists viewed Keratoacanthomas as a benign reactive lesion but now they are generally considered […]
Bowenoid Papulosis is a genital wart that has the potential to develop into Squamous Cell Cancer and I encounter them frequently in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. HPV 16 is the most common Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) causing Bowenoid Papulosis but other HPV types can be responsible. What is Bowenoid Papulosis? Bowenoid […]
Squamous Cell Cancer can be graded based on the histology of each cancer and is one of the main ways I determine prognosis and management decisions of the Squamous Cell Cancers that I encounter in my The Woodlands and Conroe dermatology offices. Squamous Cell Cancer in situ is the Squamous Cell Cancer version of the Superficial […]
Mohs Micrographic Surgery (MMS) is a surgical method for treating Basal Cell Cancers that I recommend for some of my patients in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. MMS is typically used for Basal Cell Cancers and Squamous Cell Cancers in high risk anatomic locations such as the head, neck and scalp or […]
Squamous Cell Cancer is the second most common skin cancer and it is one of the most common conditions that I diagnose and treat in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Squamous Cell Cancer is similar to Basal Cell Cancer as it arises from the epidermis, specifically the keratinocytes. UV radiation is the […]
Radiation Therapy is a treatment modality that works very well in the treatment of carefully selected Basal Cell Cancers and I recommend this method for some of my patients in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Radiation Therapy is a good treatment alternative for patients with Basal Cell Cancers who do not […]
Cryosurgery involves the treatment of Basal Cell Cancers using liquid nitrogen to destroy the Basal Cell Cancer by “freezing” it and I rarely use this technique in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. It is considered a rather historic method for treating Basal Cell Cancers as there are many more effective treatment options which have higher […]
Efudex (5% Fluouracil) is a topical cream used to treat Superficial Basal Cell Cancers not amenable to surgery that I prescribe in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Themechanism of action of Efudex involves interfering with a cancer cell’s ability to reproduce. Surgery is the primary treatment for Basal Cell Cancers; however, in patients who are not […]
Aldara (Imiquimod) is a prescription cream that can be used for treatment of select Basal Cell Cancers and I prescribe Aldara in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Aldara is FDA approved for the treatment of Superficial Basal Cell Cancers on the neck, trunk and extremities. It is not FDA approved for Basal Cell Cancers of any […]
Electrodessication and Curettage is a treatment method for non-aggressive small Basal Cell Cancers that I use in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Skin cancer cells are never as strong and cohesive as normal non-malignant skin cells, thus allowing Electrodessication and Curettage to be a viable treatment method that spares normal skin and […]
Basal Cell Nevoid Syndrome (BCNS), also called Gorlin Syndrome, is a rare genetic disease in which patients are at a very high risk for developing multiple Basal Cell Cancers at a very young age and I occasionally encounter this syndrome in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. BCNS is an autosomal dominant genetic disease […]
Excision of Basal Cell Cancer is one of the most common methods of treating Basal Cell Cancers and it is the one of the most common methods used in my The Woodlands Dermatology and Conroe Dermatology offices. Excisions of Basal Cell Cancers are usually done in the dermatology clinics in one of our two procedure rooms. Patients […]
Basal Cell Cancers are one of the most common conditions I encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. They are almost exclusively caused by UV exposure and usually are not a manifestation of an underlying problem. However, patients with a diagnosis of Basal Cell Cancer before age 60, are at a slight increased […]
Metastasis of Basal Cell Cancers is extremely rare and is almost never encountered in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. The estimated rate of metastasis is .0028% to .55% of all Basal Cell Cancers. This is the lowest metastasic rate of all cancers in the human body, which is why Basal Cell Cancer […]
Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus is a type of Basal Cell Cancer that I encounter in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus is most commonly found on the lower body including the legs, lumbosacral area, and groin. Clinically, Fibroepithelioma of Pinkus appears different than other Basal Cell Cancers as it is usually […]
Rodent Ulcer, or Jacobi Ulcer, refers to a Basal Cell Cancer that has been neglected for many years which I encounter frequently in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. It is called a Rodent Ulcer since the nodular portion develops an ulcer that appears to have been bitten by a rodent such as a rat. As […]
Morpheaform Basal Cell Cancer, also called Sclerosing Basal Cell Cancer, is an uncommon variant of Basal Cell Cancer that I encounter in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Morpheaform Basal Cell Cancers clinically appear like a scar and have ill defined borders. Morpheaform Basal Cell Cancers induce a fibrotic reaction in the dermis […]
Cystic Basal Cell Cancer is an uncommon variant of Basal Cell Cancer that I encounter in my The Woodlands Dermatology and Conroe Dermatology offices. Clinically, a Cystic Basal Cell Cancer appears like a Nodular Basal Cell Cancer as a pearly semi-translucent nodule. However, Cystic Basal Cell Cancers have a cystic cavity that contains a gelatinous […]
Nodular Basal Cell Cancer is considered the “classic” Basal Cell Cancer and is one of the most common conditions that I encounter and treat in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Approximately, 80% of all Basal Cell Cancers are in the Nodular Basal Cell Cancer category. Unlike Superficial Basal Cell Cancers which are […]
Superficial Basal Cell Cancers are the most common skin cancer I encounter in my Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Superficial Basal Cell Cancers begin as red scaly plaques that can be mistaken for eczema or a rash by many patients. They have a characteristic “rolled border” in which the edges are slightly elevated above […]
Basal Cell Cancer is the most common skin cancer I encounter in my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices. Over one million patients in the United States are diagnosed with Basal Cell Cancer each year and it is the most common cancer in the human body. Although Basal Cell Cancer is malignant, it is one of the least aggressive cancers […]
Aldara (imiquimod) is a cream that is very effective in the treatment of sun damage and actinic keratoses. I have always been fascinated by the mechanism of Aldara. Unlike Efudex, which is essentially a caustic topical agent that is rather non selective, Aldara is like a “smart bomb” which utilizes the bodies immune system to fight […]
Actinic keratoses (AKs) present in myriad clinical appearances. Typically, they are scaly red papules that have a gritty, sandpaper-like feel. Hyperkeratotic AKs are extremely thick clinically and resemble a squamous cell cancer, except histologically they do not fulfill the criteria for cancer. Hyperplastic AKs are also have a very thick appearance. Histologically, the keratinocytes are becoming […]
Incisional biopsies are used in both the diagnosis of rashes and skin cancer. These biopsies remove a large ellipse of full thickness skin and are usually repaired with a layer of dermal/subcuticular sutures followed by epidermal interrupted sutures. This is a rarely used type of biopsy for rashes but it is the preferred type of biopsy for a […]
Shave biopsies are the most useful and versatile type of biopsies utilized by a dermatologist. I prefer a sterile double edge razor blade which can be flexed to remove flat lesions in their entirety or kept level to remove the upper portion of a lesion. Some dermatologists use a 15 blade which I find very […]
Patients peforming their own skin exams is very important in aiding the early detection of skin cancer. I am frequently asked by patients what to look for when they examine their skin. As there are many different types of skin cancer, which can have vastly different clinical appearances, it is very difficult to give a […]
Skin cancer can take many forms and can occur anywhere on the skin and can even occur underneath the nails, so I always recommend a complete skin exam at a patient’s first visit and then at least annually by myself or another board certified dermatologist. I begin each exam by inquiring about any new or […]
