Jacksonville’s Best Skin Cancer Treatment & Dermatology Clinic

Skin cancer begins when cells in the outer layer of the skin grow uncontrollably. While it can appear anywhere on the body, it most often develops in areas frequently exposed to sunlight, such as the face, arms, and hands.

Dr. Goyal and the team at Coastal Dermatology & Medspa diagnose and treat all major types of skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and precancerous lesions. Early detection is critical for effective treatment, and that’s where focused, timely care can make a significant impact.

Skin cancer detection begins with a comprehensive skin examination. During your visit, our team will review your medical history, discuss any symptoms or changes you’ve noticed, and perform a detailed evaluation of your skin.

If any suspicious moles or lesions are identified, a skin biopsy may be recommended. This involves removing a small tissue sample with a scalpel, which is then sent to a nearby laboratory for analysis. The results will confirm whether the lesion is cancerous and help determine the specific type, guiding appropriate treatment.

The treatment for skin cancer depends on factors like the type, location, and how far it’s progressed. Dr. Goyal and our team typically start with the least invasive approach possible. Depending on your diagnosis, treatment options may include:

• Excisional surgery to remove the cancerous lesion
• Curettage and electrodesiccation
• Mohs surgery, to precisely treat basal or squamous cell carcinoma in specific locations
• Radiation therapy if surgery is not a good option

For more advanced skin cancers you may need to be referred out.

Ready to explore your options? Reach out to Coastal Dermatology & Medspa today or book your appointment online to take the next step.

There’s no single look, since it depends on the type. A helpful starting point is the ABCDE rule dermatologists use for moles: Asymmetry (the two halves don’t match), Border (ragged or blurry edges), Color (uneven or multiple colors), Diameter (larger than a pencil eraser, about 6mm), and Evolving (any change in size, shape, color, or feeling over time). Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers often look different — a pearly or waxy bump, a sore that won’t heal, or a rough, scaly patch. If a spot is new, changing, bleeding, or just looks “off” compared to your other moles, it’s worth having a dermatologist take a look.

No! Most moles and skin growths are completely benign. But a mole that’s changing, itching, bleeding, or doesn’t match your other moles is worth getting checked. The only way to know for certain whether a spot is cancerous is to have it examined (and, if needed, biopsied) by a dermatologist. It’s always better to have a spot checked and get reassurance than to wait and wonder.

A full-body skin exam typically takes 10–20 minutes. You’ll change into a gown so your dermatologist can check your entire body, including areas people often forget — the scalp, behind the ears, between the toes, and under the nails. They’re looking for anything asymmetrical, irregularly bordered, unusually colored, or new. Before your visit, it helps to remove nail polish and wear your hair down so the exam isn’t slowed down. Let your provider know about any spot you’ve personally noticed changing.

If a spot looks concerning, your dermatologist will usually recommend a biopsy; a quick, in-office procedure done under local anesthesia. A small sample (or sometimes the entire growth) is removed and sent to a lab, where a pathologist examines it under a microscope. Most biopsies take just a few minutes, and results typically come back within about a week.

The area is numbed with a local anesthetic first, so the biopsy itself is generally not painful; you may feel a quick pinch from the numbing injection. Afterward, the site can be tender for a few days. Whether it scars depends on the type of biopsy: shave biopsies usually heal with little to no visible mark, while punch or excisional biopsies (which go deeper and may need stitches) can leave a small, thin scar.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common skin cancer. It grows slowly, rarely spreads, and is highly treatable. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common; it can grow faster than BCC and, left untreated, has more potential to spread. Melanoma is the least common but most serious type, because it can spread quickly to other parts of the body if not caught early. That is exactly why regular skin checks and prompt evaluation of changing moles matter so much.

Treatment depends on the type, size, and location of the cancer. Common options include surgical excision (cutting out the cancer plus a margin of healthy skin), Mohs surgery (removing and examining tissue in stages to spare as much healthy skin as possible, often used on the face), curettage and electrodesiccation (scraping and sealing), topical medications, and non-surgical options like Superficial Radiation Therapy (SRT), which uses low-dose radiation to treat certain basal and squamous cell cancers without cutting or stitches. Your dermatologist will recommend the option best suited to your specific diagnosis.

The general recommendation is once a year for most adults, and every 3–6 months if you’ve had skin cancer before or have significant risk factors (fair skin, a history of blistering sunburns, many moles, or a family history of melanoma). In between visits, it’s worth doing a quick self-check monthly. The earlier a change is caught, the simpler treatment usually is.