Transcript: It can be frightening to find a strange-looking lesion or an expanding mole on your body! In this video, dermatologist Hadley King discusses what might be happening on your skin. There are three main types of skin cancer and each looks a little bit different. Skin Cancer can be fatal if allowed to spread to the body’s vital organs. That’s why every suspicious looking growth should be examined by a dermatologist. The main forms of skin cancer include melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. In addition, precancerous lesions, known as actinic keratoses, can also appear on the skin.  If left untreated, actinic keratoses, or AKs, can develop into the skin cancer squamous cell carcinoma. That’s why it’s important to identify AKs early. AKs do vary in appearance. They can range in size from that of a pinhead to a quarter, and in color from light tan to red. Occasionally, a raised growth, called a cutaneous horn, will form.  Basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, is the most common form of skin cancer. It can crop up in a variety of ways and is sometimes confused for other skin conditions, like melanoma or a mild rash.  I used to be obsessed with tanning—I was always at the local pool! Then one day, my husband noticed a small red patch on my skin. We thought it was a rash, but it didn’t go away, so I went to see a dermatologist. Turns out, I had basal cell carcinoma! I was lucky that my doctor diagnosed and treated me quickly.  A BCC tumor will often appear as a smooth, round growth that’s pearly gray or yellow and may bleed regularly. A pimple-like growth with a crusted surface and a threadlike border is also indicative of a BCC. A basal cell carcinoma can also appear as a scar-like growth that spreads rapidly. The second type of non-melanoma skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, can begin as an AK lesion. However, SCC typically shows up as a wart-like growth that is thick and rough.  SCC tumors may have a crusty top that occasionally bleeds. This type of cancer can also manifest as an open sore that bleeds for weeks at a time. The most serious form of skin cancer is melanoma. If left untreated and allowed to spread, melanoma can result in death. Usually, this type of cancer shows up as a new mole, or as a mole that changes in appearance. Any mole that changes in color or grows bigger should be checked out by a dermatologist. In addition, a mole that has uneven borders or appears to be asymmetrical can be a melanoma. While a mole on its own is not necessarily cancerous, it’s important to be aware that people with more than 50 of these growths are more likely to be candidates for melanoma. If diagnosed early, most skin cancers can be treated! But because it’s very difficult to Identify skin lesions, talk to your doctor immediately if you notice any changes in the appearance or texture of your skin.