Surgical Dermatology

Types of skin growths—malignant and benign

Malignant (cancerous) 

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

The most common and least serious growth. It typically appears as a shiny, small lump on sun-exposed skin. It may bleed, develop a crust, seem to heal, and then bleed again. Although these tumors grow slowly, they can become very large and penetrate deeply.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

May appear as a bump, a red scaly growth, or an ulcer. SCC can spread beyond the skin to the lymph nodes and internal organs, and can even cause death.

Melanoma

The least common but most serious form of skin cancer. It usually appears as a dark brown or black mole with uneven borders and irregular colors, or has shades of black, blue, red, or white.

Benign (non-cancerous) 

Many non-cancerous growths such as actinic keratoses, seborrheic keratoses, cysts, warts, and moles can be removed by using dermatologic surgery methods.

Actinic Keratoses

Rough, reddish, pre-cancerous lesions that appear on sun-exposed areas of the body

Seborrheic Keratoses

Warty, raised tan or brown growths with a thick, rough surface that often become itchy

Cysts

Small closed sacs that contain fluid or solid material

Moles

Common skin growths that are usually tan or brown in color, sometimes raised, and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Over time, some moles may change in color, height, size or shape.

Warts

Growths that are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) and consists of thick layers of skin. People of all ages may develop warts anywhere on the skin, but in most cases, they appear on the fingers, near the fingernails, or on the hands.

Treatment for Skin Cancer 

Treatment for skin cancer varies according to the location, size, aggressiveness of the cancer, and the patient's general health. In most cases, the dermatologist will take a small piece of the abnormal growth for an evaluation (biopsy). The tissue is examined under a microscope to determine if it is malignant.