Question: My hair has been thinning considerably for several years now, and my hairdresser recently found some strange spots on my scalp. What are they?
Answer: Watch out for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common, treatable form of skin cancer, on your scalp, especially if you are balding or your hair is noticeably thinning.
Think about it: The top of your head, forehead (and also your nose) is exposed to the sun’s harmful rays more than any other part of the body. Once you lose the cover of your thicker hair, your scalp is highly vulnerable.
The tricky thing about BCCs is that those who have had one BCC are at an increased risk for developing more tumors later in the same area or elsewhere on the body and you may also be at risk for other types of skin cancer. And the recurrence of scalp BCCs is even higher within the first two years after surgery because of the constant sun exposure.
No matter where you (or someone else) notices any type of strange lesion (there are 5 warning signs of a BCC), check in with a dermatologic practitioner regularly so your entire skin surface can be examined, especially in places like the top of your head that you cannot easily see yourself...and wear a hat!
Has anyone else ever found strange spots on you? What did they turn out to be?