Medical Procedures

Actinic keratoses are pre-cancerous, scaly patches of skin that are usually found in areas that have been chronically exposed to the sun. If left untreated they can turn into a more serious form of cancer (link to squamous cell). Fortunately, once identified there are many ways to treat them.

Once Dr. Gross has ascertained the severity of your actinic keratoses and your skin type, he will recommend the correct course of action for your specific needs. New prescription creams are more effective than ever at treating these pre-cancers effectively, without surgery or scarring. There are new techniques and instruments that quickly, effectively and painlessly remove them and achieve prevention.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer. It can appear as a shiny pink bump or a pink patch reminiscent of a scar. While it is considered benign, it’s important to remove it so that it does not damage deeper and surrounding tissue. Neglecting it, or failing to catch it early, can result in the unfortunate need of invasive, scarring surgery. Dr. Gross is well versed in all of the treatment options and is artfully skilled at combining these treatments to obtain the best possible cosmetic outcome with treatment cure.

Dr. Gross has a complete educational discussion with each patient on treatment options- which range from simple scraping, lasers, Mohs and excisional surgery to new chemotherapy creams.Dysplastic Nevi.

Dysplastic Nevi (Precancerous Moles) are irregular looking tan, brown or black spots that are precancerous for malignant melanoma. Proper maintenance and preventative care are key factors in keeping your skin healthy. Dr. Gross is skilled at identifying risk factors and treating dysplastic nevi before they become more extensive.

By being able to recognize skin cancers, irregular moles and abnormal growths and promptly treating them, Dr. Gross ensures that your treatment is minimally invasive and safe. His staff will also help you set up regular appointments for full body skin checks to ensure that any changes in your skin are immediately identified and treated.

Melanoma is the number one most serious skin cancer and can be fatal if left untreated. The good news is that with early detection, it’s completely curable. The key to catching it early is to thoroughly and steadfastly track any changes in skin growths and treat them before they have the chance to become more serious. Dr. Gross checks your body from scalp to toe, documenting moles and looking for any changes or abnormalities, which can be an early warning sign of melanoma.

Photographic imaging of moles is sometimes employed to monitor them for future changes. This prompt identification and treatment is the best prevention for melanoma.

Mohs surgery is a very involved, specialized technique for treating serious skin cancers. It involves complete surgical removal of the cancer, yet minimizes the loss of healthy tissue. While Dr. Gross does offer this treatment option, he does so only when medically necessary.

Since the surgery can be very taxing on the patient, Dr. Gross makes every effort to treat skin cancers using other, less invasive means. His expertise in detecting skin cancer and pre-cancer while they are small is the key to avoiding this kind of surgery. Then again, under the appropriate circumstances, Mohs surgery is the number one most recognized surgical procedure for serious skin cancers.

Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer. Because it grows so rapidly, it is important to catch it early before it has the chance to spread to other organs. Because squamous cell carcinoma is usually caused by excess sun exposure in the past, Dr. Gross is sure to identify at-risk patients and examine their skin thoroughly, catching any problems before they have the chance to develop into something more serious. Treatment options for squamous cell carcinoma is varied (simple scraping, surgical excision, Mohs surgery, laser, chemotherapy creams).

Dr. Gross recommends the best treatment for a given patient depending on the uniqueness of their case. Cure, cosmetic outcome and discomfort are all considered in making this decision.