It usually starts with one spot: a mole that looks darker than it used to, a patch on the nose that flakes and returns, a small bump that bleeds when you towel off. Most of these are harmless, but knowing which symptoms deserve a closer look is the most useful thing you can do for your skin. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and it is also one of the most treatable when it is found early.
This guide from Reserve Dermatology & Aesthetics in Northfield explains what causes skin cancer, what the warning signs look like, and how dermatologists match treatment to the type and stage of what they find.
Why Skin Cells Go Off Course
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun and tanning beds damages the DNA in skin cells. Over years, that damage can build up until cells begin growing uncontrollably. This is why skin cancer most often appears on the face, ears, scalp, neck, forearms, and backs of the hands, the places that see the most sun.
UV exposure is the leading cause, but it is not the only one. A personal or family history of skin cancer, a weakened immune system, fair skin that burns easily, a large number of moles, a history of blistering sunburns, and past radiation treatment can all raise risk. Skin cancer can also develop in areas that rarely see sun, which is why a full-body exam matters.
Three Cancers, Three Different Looks
Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form. It often appears as a pearly or shiny bump, a pink patch, or a sore that heals and then reopens. It grows slowly and rarely spreads, but it can damage surrounding tissue if left untreated.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma often looks like a firm red bump, a rough scaly patch, or a crusted sore. It frequently develops from actinic keratoses, the rough, sandpapery precancerous spots that come from long-term sun exposure.
Melanoma
Melanoma is less common but more likely to spread, so early detection is especially important. It can arise in an existing mole or appear as a new dark spot.
Symptoms That Earn a Prompt Appointment
For moles and pigmented spots, dermatologists use the ABCDE guide:
Asymmetry: one half does not match the other
Border: edges that are ragged, notched, or blurred
Color: several shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue
Diameter: larger than about 6 millimeters, roughly the size of a pencil eraser, though melanomas can be smaller
Evolving: any change in size, shape, color, or feel
Beyond the ABCDEs, have a spot checked if it bleeds without injury, itches or hurts persistently, or is a sore that has not healed within a few weeks. A spot that simply looks different from your other moles is also worth showing a dermatologist. On deeper skin tones, skin cancer more often appears on the palms, soles, under the nails, or inside the mouth, so check those areas too.
From Biopsy to a Clear Diagnosis
A skin cancer screening is a head-to-toe visual exam, often aided by a handheld magnifying light. If a spot looks suspicious, the next step is a biopsy, in which a small sample is numbed, removed, and sent to a laboratory. The biopsy confirms whether cancer is present, which type it is and how deep it goes, and those details guide everything that follows.
Matching the Treatment to the Tumor
No single skin cancer treatment fits everyone. The right choice depends on the type of cancer, its size and depth, where it sits on the body, and your overall health. Options described on our skin cancer treatment page include:
Excision: surgical removal of the cancer with a margin of healthy skin, the most common approach for many skin cancers
Cryosurgery: freezing with liquid nitrogen, typically used for actinic keratoses
Curettage and electrodesiccation: scraping away the growth and treating the base, used for certain small, superficial cancers
Photodynamic therapy: a light-activated treatment for some precancers and superficial cancers
Mohs surgery: layer-by-layer removal with microscopic examination of each layer, used for cancers in sensitive areas such as the face, where preserving healthy tissue matters most
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy: options for specific situations, such as patients who are not surgical candidates or more advanced disease
Dr. Damstetter will explain which options fit your diagnosis and, when a more specialized procedure such as Mohs micrographic surgery is best.
Life After Treatment: Checks, Sunscreen and Self-Exams
Having one skin cancer raises the chance of developing another, so follow-up skin exams become part of the routine. Between visits, check your own skin monthly in good light with a mirror, wear broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, reapply when outdoors, and favor shade, hats, and protective clothing during midday sun.
What Patients Ask at Their First Skin Check
How often should I have a full-body skin exam?
It depends on your risk. People with a personal or family history of skin cancer, many moles, or significant past sun exposure often benefit from a yearly exam or more frequent visits. Your dermatologist will recommend a schedule based on your history.
Does a spot have to look dark to be cancer?
Many basal and squamous cell carcinomas are pink, red, pearly, or skin-colored. A sore that will not heal or a scaly patch that keeps returning deserves attention, even if it isn’t dark.
Who will examine my skin?
Dr. Liz Damstetter, a board-certified dermatologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, performs skin checks at the practice.
Contact Us
If something on your skin has changed or simply does not look right, an exam answers the question faster than worrying about it. Fill out the contact form to schedule a skin check with Dr. Damstetter in Northfield.
