Skin cancer prevention and detection are critical. With excessive sun exposure, sun protection is a must. In cases where skin cancer cells are detected in the early phases or where pre-cancerous lesions are present, photodynamic therapy is a skin cancer preventative treatment.
It uses special chemical compounds that are activated by certain types of light, which shrinks the targeted cancerous cells or lesion. The compounds can be applied topically, injected into the skin or administered through an IV. In essence, these drugs and light are photosensitizing agents that disarm blood vessels that facilitate the growth of cancerous cells while reviving your immune system to fight the skin cancer.
Before cancerous cells turn into skin cancer, they may exist in the form of pre-cancerous lesions such as actinic keratosis, basal cell, or squamous cell carcinoma on the skin or scalp.