Skin cancer. That sounds scary but can be easily treated if detected early. Your primary care doctor usually checks your skin during the annual physical and will document any worrisome growths to monitor. Or you may be referred to a dermatologist. The dermatologist will do a more comprehensive exam from head to toe. During this exam, the dermatologist may take a biopsy of any lesion that looks suspicious. There are several different types of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. BCC and SCC are usually caused by sun damage and considered to be common and generally non-melanoma. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes, which are the cells that make pigment giving the skin its color. In this post we are going to talk about SCC because it is more likely to grow in the deeper layers of the skin and spread. The primary cause of SCC is prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Those with a history of sunburns, weakened immune system, chronic skin conditions and human papillomavirus (HPV) are at a higher risk of developing SCC. SCC may present with various symptoms. It is not uncommon for it to appear like a pimple or a sore that is not healing. SCC may be flat, scaly, or crusted lesion or a growth with a central depression or ulceration. The prognosis is generally very good when detected early and treated appropriately. The treatment options are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and topical chemotherapy. Mohs surgery is a tissue-sparing procedure that removes the cancer in layers until the margins of the cancer are clear.