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
Cryotherapy (Liquid Nitrogen)
Cryotherapy freezes a skin spot with liquid nitrogen to remove it. What it treats, what it feels like, how well it works, and why a spot should be checked before it is frozen.
Tyler Long, DO · October 20, 2026
Canfield AI Tools Earn European CE Marking
The European milestone covers DEXI and Lesion Visualizer, two software tools separate from total body photography.
October 15, 2026
ResearchThe Melanoma mRNA Vaccine Reaches a 5-Year Milestone: What It Means
A personalized mRNA vaccine for high-risk melanoma held its benefit at five years in a 2026 update. Here's what the research shows, and the important limits to keep in mind.
October 13, 2026
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Conditions
View all 6 →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.
Seborrheic Keratosis
A seborrheic keratosis is a common, harmless skin growth that shows up with age. It is not cancer and you do not have to treat it. The main reason to see a doctor is to be sure a spot is truly harmless, because a melanoma can sometimes look like one.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed
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
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
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
Treatments
View all 5 →Cryotherapy (Liquid Nitrogen)
Cryotherapy freezes a skin spot with liquid nitrogen to remove it. What it treats, what it feels like, how well it works, and why a spot should be checked before it is frozen.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed
Imiquimod (Aldara) Cream
Imiquimod is a prescription cream that uses your own immune system to clear sun damage and some early skin cancers. How it works, what the reaction looks like, and how well it works.
Tyler Long, DO · Reviewed
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
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
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
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
Research & News
View all 8 →
Canfield AI Tools Earn European CE Marking
The European milestone covers DEXI and Lesion Visualizer, two software tools separate from total body photography.
October 15, 2026
The Melanoma mRNA Vaccine Reaches a 5-Year Milestone: What It Means
A personalized mRNA vaccine for high-risk melanoma held its benefit at five years in a 2026 update. Here's what the research shows, and the important limits to keep in mind.
October 13, 2026
You’re Invited: SpotDoc Brownwood Open House on November 13
Join us November 13, from 2 to 4 p.m., for office tours, refreshments, and WVLG broadcasting live at SpotDoc Brownwood in The Villages®.
October 8, 2026
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
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