Dr Sarah Jarvis
My Weekly’s favourite GP from TV and radio writes for you
The skin is our biggest organ and constantly exposed to the elements. It’s prone to all sorts of lumps and bumps, and knowing the harmless from the worrisome can save you time, anxiety and possibly painful treatment.
Skin cancers are extremely common, but fortunately mostly treatable. Basal cell cancers, or BCCs, can start as non-healing scabs or pink, red or pearly lumps, often small and dome-shaped to begin with. Squamous cell cancers, or SCCs, often start as scaly, crusted areas of skin with a red or pinkish base and in time it can turn into a wart-like lump. Both can change into painless ulcers and bleed, and both get more common as you get older. They are both mostly found on the head and neck, including ears and lips, although they can occur anywhere on your skin.
Malignant melanomas carry a much higher risk of spreading. You may first notice a new mole, or a change in an existing one. Ask yourself if it follows the ABCD rule – A for Asymmetry (irregular shape); B for Borders that are jagged or blurred rather than smooth; C for different colours in the mole; D for diameter over about 6mm or growing. If so – get it checked urgently!
Having fair skin that burns easily means you’re more likely to get skin cancer. Melanoma is a particular issue if you’ve ever been sunburned (especially in childhood). BCCs and SCCs are more closely linked to lifetime sun exposure. It’s never too early – or too late – to protect your skin.
MOST SKIN LUMPS AND BUMPS AREN’T CANCEROUS, BUT THOSE THAT ARE NEED PROMPT TREATMENT – IF IN ANY DOUBT, GET YOUR GP TO CHECK IT OUT
Skin tags are soft, fleshy growths that dangle from the surface of your skin. Up to 2 inches long, they’re harmless but can look unsightly. They are often caused by friction, so are common in areas where skin rubs against skin or where regularly worn necklaces rub. Getting older, being overweight, having type 2 diabetes and the hormone change of pregnancy all make you more prone.
Because they’re harmless, they don’t routinely qualify for removal on the NHS. However, if they’re bleeding or causing irritation, your doctor may arrange removal by freezing or by injecting local anaesthetic, then tying off the base of the tag – the blood supply is cut off so it withers and drops off.
Warts have a knobbly, irregular surface – a bit like a tiny cauliflower – with a wider base attached to your skin. Most commonly found on hands and feet (they’re called verrucas on your feet), they aren’t dangerous but can spread as they’re caused by a virus. Verrucas can be painful, as the lump tends to get pressed into the tender flesh of your feet. That means that unlike warts, they’re not raised above the skin surface, and often have a white-andblack mosaic appearance. Your body’s immune system usually fights the virus that causes warts and verrucas, so they tend to settle on their own, but this can take a few years. Your pharmacist can advise on gels or creams that contain salicylic acid – they can burn normal skin, so be careful to apply it just to the wart. They need to be applied every day after soaking the skin for a few minutes to soften it, and sometimes filing down the skin with a pumice stone or emery board first. Treatment takes several weeks, so be patient. If that doesn’t do the trick, your GP may be able to freeze off with liquid nitrogen. Next Week: Is it my age?
FOR SKIN SUN PROTECTION, PRACTISE SLIP, SLOP, SLAP – SLIP ON A SHIRT, SLOP ON THE SUNSCREEN AND SLAP ON A HAT