The Spot
Physician-reviewed guides, research, and news on skin cancer and dermatologic care.
Plain-language explainers, graded by the evidence, on the conditions and treatments people search for most.
Latest
Surgical Excision
Surgical excision is the cut-it-out treatment for skin cancer. The surgeon removes the growth with a rim of normal skin and sends it to a lab. How it works, what the margin means, and how well it works.
Tyler Long, DO · September 15, 2026
Atypical Moles (Dysplastic Nevi)
An atypical mole (also called a dysplastic nevus) is a harmless mole that looks a little unusual. It is not cancer. Having several of them is mostly a sign to keep an eye on your skin, not a reason to remove them all.
September 8, 2026
PreventionSkin Self-Exam (ABCDE)
Checking your own skin helps you spot a new or changing mole early. Here is how to do it with the ABCDE rule and the ugly duckling sign, what a self-exam can miss, and honest answers about phone apps.
September 1, 2026
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Conditions
View all 5 →Melanoma
Melanoma is a family of skin cancers, from melanoma in situ (almost always curable) to invasive and advanced disease. This overview explains the types and stages so you can see where a diagnosis fits, then how treatment changes by stage.
Atypical Moles (Dysplastic Nevi)
An atypical mole (also called a dysplastic nevus) is a harmless mole that looks a little unusual. It is not cancer. Having several of them is mostly a sign to keep an eye on your skin, not a reason to remove them all.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
Melanoma In Situ
Melanoma in situ is the earliest, Stage 0 form of melanoma, confined to the top layer of skin. Because it hasn't grown deeper, removing it completely is essentially curative.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratoses are rough, scaly patches from years of sun exposure. They are the most common precancer and a direct precursor to squamous cell carcinoma, so treating them is one of the most effective ways to prevent skin cancer.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common skin cancer. Most are cured with surgery, but a higher-risk minority can spread, so risk and early treatment matter. What it looks like, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
Treatments
Surgical Excision
Surgical excision is the cut-it-out treatment for skin cancer. The surgeon removes the growth with a rim of normal skin and sends it to a lab. How it works, what the margin means, and how well it works.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) Cream
5-fluorouracil is a prescription cream that clears sun-damaged and precancerous skin across a whole area. How it works, what the reaction looks like, and how well it works.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Photodynamic therapy uses a light-activated medicine to clear actinic keratoses and sun damage across a whole area at once. How it works, what to expect, and how well it works.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
Prevention
Skin Self-Exam (ABCDE)
Checking your own skin helps you spot a new or changing mole early. Here is how to do it with the ABCDE rule and the ugly duckling sign, what a self-exam can miss, and honest answers about phone apps.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
Sunscreen & SPF
Daily sunscreen is one of the simplest ways to lower your risk of skin cancer and slow skin aging. Here is what the research actually shows it prevents, how to use it, and honest answers to the worries about safety and vitamin D.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed Jun 2026
Research & News
View all 5 →
Can a Vitamin Lower Your Skin Cancer Risk? What the Nicotinamide Research Shows
A large 2025 study renewed interest in nicotinamide, an inexpensive form of vitamin B3, for preventing skin cancer. Here's what the research actually shows, and who stands to benefit.
August 11, 2026
Skin Cancer in the 21st Century: Takeaways From Our VHA Talk
In June, Dr. Tyler Long, DO, spoke to about 250 Villages residents about catching skin cancer early. For everyone who couldn't make it, here are the key takeaways from the talk.
June 29, 2026
What a New Study Reveals About Skin Cancer in Older Floridians
A 2026 study tracked melanoma in older Floridians. The takeaway for anyone who retired here: the risk is real, steady, and largely preventable. Here's what it found.
June 29, 2026
Why Villages Residents Face a Higher Skin Cancer Risk
Florida's year-round sun is one of the great draws of life in The Villages. It's also why our patients here carry one of the highest skin cancer risks in the country. Here's what you need to know.
June 14, 2026
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