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By Mamta V. Shah, MD / Oculoplastics
July 20, 2020
The skin on your eyelid is the thinnest and most sensitive skin on your body. Almost 10% of skin cancer cases occur on the eyelid. This area of the body is easily damaged by sun exposure with more than half of eyelid cancers developing on the lower part of the eyelid. The most common type of eyelid cancer is basal cell carcinoma which can generally be removed with surgery. Less common types include squamous cell carcinoma, sebaceous cell carcinoma, and malignant melanoma.
Risk factors for eyelid cancer include exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, fair skin or light-colored eyes, those ages 50 years and older, history of sunburns or previous skin cancer, and personal medical history.
Symptoms of eyelid cancer:
Eyelid cancer can be treated through Mohs microsurgery or frozen section control, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, or cryotherapy. Plastic surgery to reconstruct the eyelid may also be an option after the cancerous lesions are removed.
Tips to prevent eyelid cancer:
Contact your healthcare provider if you notice anything abnormal about your eyelid skin. Early detection is essential to finding the best treatment options and preventing future cancer.