Basal Cell Carcinoma Squamous Cell Carcinoma Melanoma Memphis Dermatologist

3 days ago
5 min read

by George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (04/19/2026)

Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury explains Skin Cancer features to a young woman patient — Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discusses Melanoma and Skin Cancer with a young female patient

Skin Cancer, including Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Skin Carcinoma, and Melanoma, takes the lives of upwards of 20,000 Americans every year. That’s one person about every 26 minutes. Fortunately, Skin Cancer should be visible, and early detection leads to early treatment, saving lives. Let’s take a look at tips and clues that Dermatologists like myself use to diagnose Skin Cancer early, my Memphis Dermatology practice having been with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, Cordova, TN, since 1993 (1-901-753-0168; 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018; www.Rheumderm.com/dermatology).

Dermatologist checking for Melanoma on a male patient's back — Dermatologist doing a Skin Cancer Screening on a male patient's back

First, you’ve got to look for it to detect Skin Cancer. Many lives are saved by a concerned family member who inspects a loved one, detecting a changing growth or mole and getting the patient to prompt medical attention. So to spot a suspicious growth early, you do need to get your family members pretty much naked, for a routine home inspection, because Skin Cancer occurs on all parts of the body.

Doing a thorough Skin Cancer Screening involves inspecting a person's entire body for warning signs — Couple doing their own Skin Cancer Screening on each other

Years ago, we Dermatologists taught that certain people were “high risk” for Skin Cancer-: redheads, blonds, those who freckle easily, or those who love the sun or who have a history of severe sunburns. “Low risk” people were those who routinely wear sunscreen, avoid the sun and tanning salon bulbs, or people who tan easily. But we now realize that really everyone’s at risk of skin cancer. In fact, African-Americans tend to be diagnosed much later, leading to a higher fatality rate!

Fair complected children in a bed — Fair complected children who would be considered high risk for Skin Cancer if not amply protected with Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher

Be aware that Skin Cancer affects more than just senior citizens. In fact, the median age for development of Melanoma is 52 years old. That means that half of cases occur in people younger than 52. And don’t forget to inspect your kids. Several thousand people under the age of 20 develop Melanoma in the U.S. each year, including several hundred below the age of 12.

Closeup of a Malignant Melanoma showing various hues of Color — Closeup of a Melanoma showing an irregular Border with different Colors and also Asymmetry

So what do you watch for? What features of a growth or mole cause higher concern, and might be a sign of a type of high risk mole called an atypical mole or dysplastic nevus?

Closeup view of a Melanoma showing an irregular Border — Closeup view of a Melanoma on a person's forehead showing Asymmetry and various Color hues

Look for what we call the ABCDE Melanoma warning signs:

A stands for Asymmetry: one half of the lesion does not match the other half.

B stands for Border: a jagged border, perhaps like the coast of Maine, rather than of Florida.

C stands for Color change: different hues of brown or black within the lesion, or one mole that’s a darker color than the person’s other moles.

D stands for an increasing Diameter of the lesion

E stands for Evolving: if the lesion is changing, it’s best to bring it to the attention of a Dermatologist.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Basal Cell Carcinoma have similar features but Squamous Cell Carcinoma tends to be more crusted in nature — Pigmented Squamous Cell Carcinoma on a person's shoulder

The telltale feature of a Basal Cell Skin Cancer, also called Basal Cell Carcinoma, is a translucent or almost clear-looking growth, usually on sun-exposed parts of the body. Squamous Cell Skin Cancer, or Squamous Cell Carcinoma, tends to be more scabbed or crusted, tending to bleed. Melanoma tends to be a pigmented lesion, meaning that it’s often black, brown, or gray in color.

The development of soreness or itching within a lesion can be a sign that it’s turned cancerous. So it’s an especially good idea to get a sore or itchy lesion checked by a Board-certified Dermatologist.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing features of Melanoma with a male patient — Memphis Dermatologist discussing Skin Cancer with a young male patient

We know what action to take for suspicious moles or growths: if caught early, generally a Dermatologic Surgeon like myself will use a simple removal, or “excision” of the lesion under local anesthetic. If the lesion turns out to be a precancerous lesion – such as a high-risk atypical mole – or perhaps a severely atypical solar keratosis or actinic keratosis - or a full-fledged skin cancer - we often try to ensure that the lesion is completely out – by doing what’s called a “reexcision.”

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury inspecting a male patient's scalp for Melanoma — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury doing a Skin Cancer Screening on a male patient

Mohs Surgery – available in my own practice as a Memphis Dermatologist since 2004 – is a special technique in which the Skin Cancer is cut out – and then processed right in the office – to check whether the borders of the specimen removed are clear of cancer or not. If those borders are not clear, we can then do a further stage or cycle or Mohs surgery to check once again for clear borders.

Scarlet Akins developed Melanoma after using Ultraviolet tanning beds — Scarlet Akins developed Melanoma when in her mid twenties

For more tips on Melanoma and for Melanoma pictures, check out a short movie sponsored by myself as a Cordova Dermatologist: YouTube: “Understanding the Melanoma Crisis: Scarlet’s Story.” It tells the story of Scarlet, a 26 year old student studying to be a teacher at Ole Miss who found out while seven months pregnant that she had metastatic Melanoma.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with notes on Melanoma — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing Skin Cancer and Melanoma with patients

My own Memphis Dermatology practice these last 30 years has been with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, in Cordova, TN (1-901-753-0168; https://www.Rheumderm.com). Or you can find a “Dermatologist Near Me” or “Best Dermatologist Near Me” by going to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, then simply plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab.