These patients have found that Florida dermatologists usually see more skin cancer than dermatologists in northern climes. Although most skin growths are benign , any new growth on the skin or sore that does not heal should be brought to a doctor's attention at once to be checked for skin cancer. Skin cancer has many different appearances. Many skin cancers begin as small, waxy lumps that eventually bleed and crust, or as dry, scaly red patches. Unfortunately, these are rather crude and limited descriptions.
Photographs are worth a thousand words in the skin-cancer game, so please refer to the photos.
Also, a skin-cancer may be very small at first, and later may become very large. Tumor size is frequently not a helpful indicator. Actinic keratoses are commonly found on the face, neck and hands. The whole lesion or a sample of the suspicious tissue is surgically removed and sent for examination under the microscope. This biopsy is used to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of cancer and to determine its type.