Patients with facial skin cancers benefit from many of the same treatments used for cancers on other areas of the body. Treatment options offer procedures that cause minimal damage to healthy skin tissue to avoid unsightly scarring. In some cases, minor reconstruction surgery repairs marks or holes in the skin following treatment.
Freezing
Freezing, also known as cryosurgery or cryotherapy, does minimal damage to early, small skin cancers and precancerous conditions, such as actinic keratosis, according to the Mayo Clinic. The dermatologist freezes the affected areas with liquid nitrogen. This deadens the tissue so the growths eventually fall off. The technique may leave no marks, but blisters, redness and scarring can occur for some people. Advanced cosmetic techniques can repair the tissue.
Topical Drugs
Creams called imiquimod often work on superficial basal cell carcinomas, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Treatment consists of rubbing the substance into the skin cancer about five times a week for several weeks. The drugs help stimulate the immune system to fight off cancer cells. Topical chemotherapy treatments also work for some basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy, also called PDT, causes minimal damage to facial basal cell carcinomas because the treatment selectively destroys the cancers. Doctors apply a photosensitizing topical acid to the tumor. After the tumor cells absorb the substance, a wavelength of light destroys the cells. Patients must stay out of the sun for a couple of days because of photosensitivity.
Laser Therapy
Laser surgery often works successfully in treating some cancers and precancerous spots, according to Naficy Plastic Surgery & Rejuvenation Center. The laser energy removes the top layer of skin and minimizes injury to deeper layers of skin. Lasers often have excellent cosmetic results for skin cancers or precancers on the skin surface. Lasers give doctors good control over the amount of tissue removed.
Surgical Removal
Mohs surgery involves removing a layer of the cancer and then examining it under a microscope to see if they have reached healthy tissue. Doctors remove cells a layer at a time so minimal damage affects the skin. The technique works for large or recurring basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Patients may also benefit from a method called curettage and electrodessication, which used for small or thin skin cancers. The doctor scrapes away layers of cancer cells. An electric needle then destroys remaining cancer cells.
