Eyelid Skin Cancer Houston

The eyelid region, unknown to many, is one of the most common sites for skin cancers. In fact, five to 10 percent of all skin cancers are found in the eyelids, despite their small surface area. Most likely, this is due to the thin skin and the delicate nature of the anatomy. Also, it is an area that most people forget to protect from the sun.

It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives. Therefore the timely detection, treatment, and possible prevention of this cancer are very important.

The lower eyelids are involved in more than 70% of cases, followed by the corner of the eye, upper eyelids, and the outer corner of the eye.

Early detection is vital in ensuring appropriate treatment. Some warning signs include:

• A nodule or bump that is elevated and red
• A nodule or sore that bleeds frequently and does not heal but scabs over repeatedly
• Persistent eye redness or inflammation that does not respond to medication
• Loss of eyelashes or ingrown eyelashes
• Notching or change in the shape of the eyelid margin, with or without redness
• Newly acquired pigmented area that could be flat or elevated, with an irregular border to the pigment
• Frequent styes or chalazion that repeatedly gets inflamed and does not respond to treatment

TREATMENT

Treating eyelid skin cancers poses special challenges, since eyelids are composed of extremely delicate skin surrounding a vital organ of sight.

Removal of the tumor is the treatment of choice and should only be undertaken by a specialist, like an oculoplastic surgeon, with experience in eyelid skin cancer removal and more importantly, eyelid reconstruction.

PREVENTION

Fortunately, preventing eyelid skin cancer can be easy:

• Sunscreens and moisturizers are essential although applying these effectively to the eyelid region is difficult. Eye creams that are specially formulated for the eye area with  SPF 15 or higher are available.
• Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Lenses that absorb and block UV are one of the strongest defenses against eye and eyelid damage, so it os best to wear sunglasses year-round whenever you are out in the sun.
• Finally, hats are also an important sun-protective strategy. Wearing a hat with at least a 3-inch brim all around can block as much as half of all UVB rays from your eyes and shield your eyelids.

DR. SAMI’S EXPERTISE IN TREATING EYELID SKIN CANCERS

If you have been diagnosed with eyelid malignancy or have a suspicious lesion that concerns you, call to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mirwat Sami at Houston Oculofacial Plastic Surgery.

From diagnosis to surgical treatment, Dr. Sami specializes in eyelid reconstruction and has tremendous expertise and experience in this area. She also works closely with several Mohs surgeons to provide eyelid reconstruction after tumor excision. It is critical to reconstruct the eyelid so that it continues to function properly, protecting the eyes and preserving vision while at the same time giving a satisfactory cosmetic result.

At Houston Oculofacial Plastic Surgery, we pride ourselves on our compassionate patient care, our sensitivity and understanding of each patient’s needs and expectations and our drive for excellence. Our goal is to help you and your loved ones feel welcome, comfortable and 100% satisfied with your experience.

If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sami, please do not hesitate to contact us at 713-668-1264 so we can help enhance your life.

You can see more photos of our Eyelid Skin Cancer Procedures in our Before & After Gallery

Schedule a Consultation

If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sami, please do not hesitate to contact us at 713-668-1264 so we can help enhance your life.

Related Procedures

• Ectropion
• Functional Blepharoplasty
• Ptosis
• Entropian
• Floppy Eyelid