Could It Be Skin

My Weekly’s favourite GP from TV and radio writes for you

- Dr. Sarah Jarvis

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.