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High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic

Our Commitment to Your Safety

Certain medications and medical conditions can weaken your immune system, increasing your risk of developing skin cancer. Your immune system plays a vital role in detecting and destroying abnormal cells, but when it’s suppressed—by medications such as immunosuppressants or biologic therapies—it becomes harder for your body to fight off skin cancer.

At Vanguard Skin Specialists, we understand the unique challenges faced by high-risk patients. Our High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic, led by Dr. Ryan Lawrence, provides specialized care, close monitoring, and expedited access for patients with increased susceptibility to skin cancer.

Your comfort, safety, and health are our top priorities. To reduce infection risk, we offer dedicated appointment times during quieter clinical hours for immunocompromised patients. We also prioritize rapid access, scheduling appointments within 7 days of identifying any concerning skin lesions—because early detection and treatment can dramatically improve outcomes.

Who Is Considered High Risk?

Certain medications and medical conditions increase the risk of developing skin cancer. If you take any of the medications or have any of the health conditions listed below, you may benefit from specialized monitoring and care.

A variety of pills and tablets spilled from a brown bottle, with a syringe, blister packs, and medicine bottles in the blurry background, evoke the essential treatments used at a High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic, all arranged on a wooden surface.

Medications That Increase Risk

  • Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone)
  • Biologic therapies (e.g., Enbrel, Remicade, Humira)
  • Tacrolimus (Prograf) or Azathioprine (Imuran)
  • Mycophenolate (Cellcept) or Cyclosporine
  • Methotrexate or Rituximab
  • JAK inhibitors (e.g., Xeljanz, Rinvoq)
  • Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
  • Long-term NSAIDs, tetracyclines, antifungals, or antimalarials

Health Conditions That Increase Risk

  • Organ or bone marrow transplant
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or HIV/AIDS
  • Immunodeficiency or autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus)
  • Genetic syndromes (e.g., Gorlin syndrome, Xeroderma pigmentosum, familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome)
  • Chronic inflammatory skin conditions (e.g., psoriasis, lichen planus)
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • History of multiple skin cancers in one year
A man with short brown hair and a beard, wearing a gray blazer and white shirt, smiles outdoors with a blurred natural background—perfect for promotional materials for a High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic.

Meet Dr. Ryan Lawrence

Dr. Ryan Lawrence leads the High-Risk Skin Cancer Clinic at Vanguard Skin Specialists. A board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Lawrence practices general and surgical dermatology at Vanguard’s Pueblo and Broadmoor offices. He has a special interest in treating skin cancer, psoriasis, eczema, and other complex dermatologic conditions. His compassionate care and commitment to patient safety guide the clinic’s approach to managing high-risk individuals.

Learn More About Dr. Lawrence

Schedule a Skin Exam Today

For high-risk patients, regular skin exams are crucial for early detection and prevention. Dermatologists can identify skin cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages—sometimes before symptoms appear. In some cases, they may also prescribe supplements or medications (such as nicotinamide or acitretin) to reduce the risk of future skin cancers. If you are taking immune-affecting medications or have a medical condition that increases your skin cancer risk, regular visits to a dermatologist can make all the difference. At Vanguard Skin Specialists, we are dedicated to providing compassionate, timely, and expert care for every patient—especially those who need it most.

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A healthcare professional in a white coat performs a Total Body Skin Exam, checking a woman's arm with a small medical device while she sits and looks down at her arm in a clinical setting.