Many people think skin cancer is something that is caused by excessive sun or ultraviolet light exposure. However, even though your feet and ankles don’t generally get much sun, you still need to have any skin lesions on your feet and ankles evaluated by your foot doctor to rule out skin cancer.
Some other causes of skin cancer on the feet include the following:
- Burns from chemicals can alter the DNA in skin cells.
- The human papillomavirus (HPV) and systemic illnesses can limit your body’s ability to repair and remove damaged skin cells, contributing to malignant cell formation.
- A very dangerous and aggressive type of skin cancer called acral lentiginous melanoma develops without any UV exposure and is frequently found on the soles or balls of the feet or underneath the toenails.
A growth that looks like a wart could actually be a malignant melanoma:
Melanomas can often look similar to other foot abnormalities like moles, warts, fungal toenails, and blisters. Since melanoma grows into the deep layers of skin rather than spreading across the surface, it can be more difficult to detect. Therefore, it is essential to have any skin or nail anomalies inspected by your foot care specialist.
If you are concerned about a growth on your foot, see your foot doctor for the proper diagnosis and treatment. At Podiatry Center of New Jersey, Dr. Russell Samofal treats a variety of conditions such as sports injuries, diabetic foot problems, pediatric foot conditions, toe deformities, arthritis, nail fungus, arch problems and heel pain. Equipped with advanced technologies and a dedicated staff, Podiatry Center of New Jersey provides individualized high quality care for patients all across Morris, Passaic, Bergen and Essex counties. For all your foot and ankle problems, contact our Wayne office at (973) 925-4111 for an appointment.
