Melanoma survivor here

We had a family member have Mohs Surgery and it was quite successful.

Hope whatever action taken is successful for you!

It's what beach babes and surfers use. I've been a beach person all my life and zinc oxide is the best. Don't forget to protect your hands when driving.

Also, a little off topic but related is always wear UV protective sunglasses outside, even when it's cloudy. The sun exposure is what causes cataracts. Many falsely believe that they come with "old age" but they don't have to.

This particular zinc oxide is very highly rated. A little pricey but not as expensive as cancer. Glad you got it checked!

https://www.dermstore.com/eltamd-uv-sport-broad-spectrum-spf50-tube/11370299.html

Getting older is probably the biggest risk.

I lost my 52yo brother to melanoma. So incredibly sad, as he was the picture of health otherwise. He just did not act quickly enough.

..I realized it had gotten crusty. My primary guy cut it out, went wide and deep but not wide or deep enough. Biopsy came back positive and a dermatology specialist removed more tissue and got it all. I'm not prone to have them but go back yearly for a look see.

Thanks and good health.

Mohs surgery is the gold standard for treating many basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), including those in cosmetically and functionally important areas around the eyes, nose, lips, ears, scalp, fingers, toes or genitals.

My friend had to go back for her basal on nose. It came back. Mohs was used the second time.

It’s a lot better if precancerous lesions can be frozen off. I have some zapped every year on arms, face and ears.

But, Mr. Baked Potato, the first thing your name and the subject of your post was you are sprouting eyes like potatoes do.🤪

It was annually for a while based on a spot I had back in the 90's. It was actually the bad stuff, but a rather small spot, which they excised by taking about a square foot of skin off my back. They did get it all, because they didn't put me on chemo or anything, just told me to "keep an eye" on it.

A decade or so ago I got hooked up with the VA. Once they heard about my experience, they put me on an annual dermatology visit that held up until Covid. Missed a couple of years there, and when I went back in after they told me I could shift to a 2 year cycle going forward.

I still keep an eye out, though, doing mirror time frequently in the old birthday suit. The first time around I knew that nasty sore was back there, but I kind of pretended not to care. Dumb move that I got away with.

I go religiously to the dermatologist.
My "tell" is if a spot is itchy, gets larger or like you, bleeds.

I spent a lot of time at the beach growing up!

to you left arm if you ever spent any time driving before tinted widows and air conditioning.

...and you're right about the left.

It was flat and black but ever so often it would bleed (a problem because I take blood thinners). Then it would heal, etc. This went on for years.

Dermatology at the VA used a bit of flexible plastic with a razor on it, and scooped it off. It tested benign, thank goodness. The little round scar is smaller than a smallpox scar.

Had a basal cell carcinoma removed from my back about 10 years ago. It was cut out, stitched up, and that was the end of it.

It did inspire me to keep my dermatology appointments though, which I tended to put off previously.

Keratoses.

Do not skip the doctor visits, but you can use these things as part of a preventative regimen.

When I started using the roll on C 15 years ago, a keratosis on my nose that had been developing for years healed in 4 days and never came back. A couple weeks later a raised mole near my hairline peeled off and didn’t return. The slow healing sores were in the last few years and took a couple months to go away, but they healed with no scarring and didn’t return. I have Irish skin and my family is prone to skin cancer, so I wear a sunshade, don’t have parts in my hair, and use sunblock.

I just finished treatment for same on my nose... I waited too long, however, I think we got it under control...

I go back in a few weeks for another check... sunscreen from now on!!!!!

Just be sure to keep having your skin checked.

it never seemed to truly heal so I harped on her to get it checked.....it was basal cell - she had it "peeled like an onion", developed a couple of black eyes and then everything healed and she is good to go

the one good thing about basal cell is it is extremely slow forming, so there's time to get rid of it