Topical Treatments
For patients with mild cases of skin cancer or in cases where skin cancer has been detected early, topical treatments may be an option. Your provider will walk you through your options.
What Are Topical Treatments?
Topical treatments are non-invasive, non-surgical treatment techniques for eliminating skin cancer. These treatments are often preferred because they don’t require extensive procedures, and as a result, have little to no downtime following treatment. On the other hand, topical treatments often require regular, repeated use for the successful treatment of skin cancer. Goodman Dermatology is proud to offer topical treatments to eligible patients looking for a non-surgical skin cancer treatment.
Topical Treatment FAQs
The cost of your topical treatment will vary depending on the extent of treatment necessary, and may be covered by insurance. At Goodman Dermatology, we understand that each patient is unique and deserves a personalized treatment plan. We can provide a more accurate cost for treatment after we assess your treatment goals and develop your treatment plan. During your consultation, we will discuss your needs and come up with an exact cost. To make our treatments more affordable for our patients, we are proud to offer financing options through CareCredit.
Topical treatments typically involve the daily or otherwise regular use of skin creams. Most often, this is a form of topical chemotherapy, which will target cancerous cells to destroy them and eliminate skin cancer. In these cases, you simply use the topical treatment on a regular basis for the recommended length of time. You will have regular visits with your dermatologist during this period to ensure that the treatment is working as planned. Other non-invasive treatment options include photodynamic therapy and superficial radiotherapy..
You may experience some sensations in the treatment area in response to the topical treatment. However, since there are no invasive techniques involved, any side effects will be localized to the treatment area and likely quite minor.
There is no downtime required after or during your topical skin cancer treatment. You will be able to resume normal activities during and after treatment, but will have to take special precautions with the treatment area. This will require protection from the sunlight, as well as adjusting certain habits such as bathing and exercise.
The goal of topical treatment is to completely remove skin cancer from the body without significantly damaging the skin. Following the treatment, the skin will be examined to ensure that all cancerous cells have been eliminated. If not, additional treatments are likely necessary. The success rate of this treatment will vary depending on the size and type of skin cancer being treated.