This lump can be smooth, shiny and waxy looking, or it can be red or reddish brown. Skin cancer may also appear as a flat red spot that is rough or scaly. You should see your doctor if you notice changes in your skin. Some skin lesions are not cancers. Two other common types of skin growths are moles and keratoses.
Moles are clusters of heavily pigmented skin cells, either flat or raised above the skin surface.
While most are completely benign, some very large moles present at birth, or those moles with mottled colors and poorly defined borders, may develop into malignant melanoma. Moles are often constantly irritated by clothing or jewelry, which can sometimes cause pre-cancerous changes. For this, or for cosmetic reasons, they are frequently removed. Solar or actinic keratoses are rough, red or brown, scaly patches on the skin. They are usually found on areas exposed to the sun, and sometimes develop into squamous cell cancer.