Although surgery is best for advanced forms of skin cancer, surgery-free skin cancer treatments are increasingly popular in the treatment of certain early skin cancers.

Our Dermatologists have specialist training in skin cancer surgery. Although surgery tends to offer the greatest chance for cure, even with the best possible care, some scarring is usual.

Surgery-free treatment tends to leave less marking.

Provided that only appropriate and early skin cancers are treated, the cure rates of certain surgery-free treatments (such as 'PDT' discussed below) are comparable to that of surgery.

PDT (photodynamic therapy) surgery-free skin cancer treatment is offered at Clinic One. It is 'minimally invasive'. A spot is first covered by a natural 'activator' cream and left covered for about 3 hours. The cream is absorbed especially into cancerous and pre-cancerous skin cells making them very sensitive to natural red light.

When, three or so hours after the cream is applied to the skin, the area is exposed to special red light, cancer and precancer cells are destroyed.

Surrounding normal cells grow into the treatment area over a period of up to 7 days. Because surgery is avoided and mainly 'bad' cells are destroyed, scarring is usually minimal.

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS (Clinic One patient, published with their consent)

Before PDT treatment
(black dots are marker pen outlining the subtle cancer)

6 weeks after PDT treatment
(no marking evident except for very faint white mark)