Skin cancer can present in many ways, and some forms are subtle enough that patients don't realize something is wrong. Here are key warning signs for each type:

Basal Cell Carcinoma may appear as: 

– A shiny, pearly, or translucent bump, often with visible blood vessels

– A pink or flesh-colored lesion that bleeds easily or doesn't heal

– A flat, scar-like lesion that seems to appear from nowhere

Squamous Cell Carcinoma may appear as: 

– A firm, rough, or scaly red patch that may crust or bleed

– An open sore that heals and then returns

– A wart-like growth that bleeds or becomes crusty

Melanoma — use the ABCDEs: 

– Asymmetry: One half doesn't match the other

– Border: Ragged, notched, or blurred edges

– Color: Multiple shades of brown, black, red, white, or blue

– Diameter: Larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)

– Evolving: Any change in size, shape, color, or any new symptom

Remember: melanoma can appear anywhere on the body — even areas that never see the sun, such as the scalp, soles of the feet, or under the nails. When in doubt, get it checked.

Mohs micrographic surgery is the gold standard treatment for many skin cancers — particularly BCC and SCC on the face, scalp, neck, hands, and other cosmetically or functionally sensitive areas. It is also used for large, recurrent, or aggressive tumors regardless of location.

 During Mohs surgery, Dr. Thomas Hocker, a triple-board, fellowship-trained Mohs surgeon, removes the visible tumor layer by layer, examining 100% of the surgical margins under a microscope in real time before proceeding.d Mohs surgeon removes theDuring Mohs surgery, Dr. Thomas Hocker,  removes the visible tumor layer by layer, examining 100% of the surgical margins under a microscope in real time before proceeding. visible tumor layer by layer, examining 100% of the surgical margins under a microscope in real time before proceeding. This process continues until no cancer cells remain. The result:

– A cure rate greater than 99% for most skin cancers

– Maximum preservation of healthy surrounding tissue

– Same-day confirmation that all cancer has been removed

This level of precision is not achievable with standard excision, which examines only a small sampling of the margins. Mohs surgery requires rigorous fellowship training beyond standard dermatology residency — training that  our surgeon at Advanced Derm Surgery have completed at world-renowned institutions.

Our Mohs surgeon is triple-board Harvard trained surgeon and is certified by the American College of Mohs Surgery and Board-Certified by the American Board of Dermatology. You are in expert hands.

This is one of the most important questions patients ask — and the honest answer is that the consequences of untreated skin cancer can be severe. The specific risks depend on the type of cancer:

Untreated Basal Cell Carcinoma can invade deeply into the skin, muscle, and even bone over time. On the face, this can mean loss of the nose, ear, or eyelid — a condition called "neglect carcinoma." While it rarely spreads to internal organs, the local destruction it causes can be devastating and irreversible.

Untreated Squamous Cell Carcinoma carries a meaningful risk of spreading to regional lymph nodes and, ultimately, to internal organs including the lungs and brain. Once metastatic, SCC becomes significantly harder to treat and carries a much worse prognosis.

Untreated Melanoma is among the most dangerous scenarios in oncology. Melanoma can metastasize quickly — to lymph nodes, the liver, lungs, or brain — and late-stage melanoma has a dramatically lower survival rate than early-stage disease. The difference between a Stage I melanoma (typically curable with surgery alone) and a Stage IV melanoma (systemic disease) can be a matter of months in high-risk cases.

Skin cancer does not go away on its own. Early treatment leads to better outcomes, smaller scars, and lower risk of recurrence or spread. Do not wait.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States — 1 in 5 Americans will develop it by age 70. While anyone can develop skin cancer, certain factors significantly increase your risk:

Higher-risk factors include: 

– Significant cumulative sun exposure over a lifetime

– History of sunburns, especially blistering burns in childhood or adolescence

– Use of tanning beds — which increase melanoma risk by up to 75% when used before age 35

– Fair skin, light eyes, or light hair

– Personal or family history of skin cancer

– Large number of moles, or history of atypical (dysplastic) moles

– Weakened immune system due to medications or medical conditions

– Exposure to radiation or certain chemicals

Reducing your risk: 

– Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen daily — even on cloudy days

– Wear protective clothing, hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses

– Seek shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM

– Avoid tanning beds entirely

– Perform monthly self-skin exams

– Schedule annual professional skin checks with a dermatologist

If you or a family member has a history of melanoma, regular skin checks with a skin cancer expert are critical — and could literally save your life.

We understand that a skin cancer diagnosis — or even a concern about a suspicious spot — can feel overwhelming. Our team is here to make the process as clear and comfortable as possible. Here's what to expect:

Before your appointment: Review our patient preparation guidelines on our website. If you've been referred with a biopsy report, bring a copy. Make a note of any spots that concern you and how long they've been present or if they've changed.

At your visit: Our board-certified dermatologic surgeon will conduct a thorough examination of the area(s) of concern — and often a full-body skin check.  If a biopsy is needed, it can often be performed the same day.

Discussing your results and treatment plan: If skin cancer has already been confirmed by biopsy, we will review your pathology report with you and explain your diagnosis clearly. We'll discuss all appropriate treatment options — including Mohs surgery when indicated — and answer every question you have before any decisions are made.

Our on-site laboratory: Advanced Derm Surgery operates an on-site laboratory, allowing our Mohs surgeon to process and read tissue during surgery in real time. This is what makes our 99%+ cure rate possible — and it means you leave your surgery day with confirmation that your cancer is gone.

This is one of the most common concerns patients raise before surgery, and it's a completely understandable one. The honest answer: yes, all surgical procedures leave some form of scar. However, what matters greatly is how the surgery is planned, performed, and closed.

At Advanced Derm Surgery, our approach is intentionally designed to minimize visible scarring:

– Mohs surgery removes only as much tissue as necessary — no more — preserving healthy skin and reducing the size of the wound that needs to be repaired

– Our surgeon is specifically trained in advanced reconstructive techniques, using flaps, grafts, and layered closure methods to optimize cosmetic outcomes

– Incision placement follows natural skin tension lines and facial landmarks whenever possible, so scars fade into the natural contours of the skin

– Wound care guidance and scar management strategies are provided to every patient

Our team specializes in skin cancer removal and repair — the goal is always to achieve the highest cure rate with the least visible impact. Many of our patients are pleasantly surprised by how their scars look at the 6- and 12-month mark. You can view outcomes in our Patient Gallery on our website.