I Had Mohs Surgery on my Scalp Which Left Me with a Bald Spot. Is This Common?

asked 1 year ago by karenforer in Tampa
Latest answer by Robert Strimling, MD
Question viewed 1,746 times
Tags: balding, normal, scalp

I may have another small bcc on my scalp (seeing a doc hopefully soon)....I would rather not have mohs again if baldness is the result. Is freezing or burning off an alternative?

7 answers to I Had Mohs Surgery on my Scalp Which Left Me with a Bald Spot. Is This Common?

Bald Spot After Mohs Surgery

Freezing or burning of a skin cancer are other alternatives; however, Mohs will give the highest cure rate and preserve the greatest amount of healthy tissue. The two other alternatives that you mention would actually have a higher risk of scarring or damage to the surrounding hair. The "baldness" is not related to the Mohs surgery. It is most likely related to the repair that was done afterwards. It's unclear as to how long ago the procedure was performed but sometimes you can... more

Andrew Kaufman, MD
Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon

www.dermatology-center.com

Scalp skin cancer is best treated with Mohs

If you are concerned about a potential skin cancer on the scalp, you should definitely see a dermatologist to determine what it is first. A biopsy of the area will tell you if this is indeed a basal cell or a precancerous growth. While freezing with liquid nitrogen and burning (electrodessication and curettage) are both options for skin cancers, I generally do not recommend them for basal cells on the scalp. Using liquid nitrogen to treat a bcc requires significant amount... more

Margaret Mann, MD
Cleveland Dermatologic Surgeon

Mohs surgery on scalp may not have to end with a bold spot

Mohs surgery remains the best option for treatment of a skin cancer on a hair bearing area. Because Mohs surgery is tissue sparing, the final defect is more likely to be shallower and smaller then with a standard excision yet lead to the complete tumor removal. On occasion, shallow wounds on scalp with intact hair follicles are allowed to heal on their own. Since hair follicles are necessary for hair regrowth, the wound is then covered by the newly grown hair. If the... more

Larisa Ravitskiy, MD
Columbus Dermatologist

Alopecia after Mohs

Destruction of the hair follicles in the site of surgery is common- but when the defect/hole is closed up (not by secondary healing) there is usually no signifcant "bald spot" or area of scar formation. I recommend that you speak to your Mohs surgeon of your concerns and they can take the size/area/morphology into account to discuss treatment options with you.

Purvisha Patel, MD
Germantown Dermatologist

Bald spot on scalp after Mohs Surgery

Yes, this is common, but can usually be fixed or at least improved (made smaller) if you desire. Please discuss this with your treating Dermatologist.

Robert Strimling, MD
Las Vegas Dermatologist

Mohs surgery does not cause baldness

Mohs surgery does not cause baldness. In fact since one of the goals of Mohs surgery is normal tissue conservation, this technique offers a greater likelihood of sparing as much hair as possible. Typically the hair will be lost in the tumor involved area but with suturing normal skin together, only the suture line should have loss of hair since the surgeon will be pulling together normal unaffected skin.

Steven Hacker, MD
West Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

www.palmbeachdermasurgery.com

Mohs for scalp skin cancer

If you have a skin cancer on the scalp excised (cut out) whether with Mohs surgery or a conventional excision, and the wound is allowed to heal on its own over several weeks, then you will be guaranteed to develop a bald spot. If the wound were reconstructed with stitches, and not a skin graft (patch) then there is a very good chance that hair-bearing skin from the adjacent field around the surgical defect can be used to close the wound with normal hair growth. There can be a... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

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