Watch out! Persistent spots on your skin may spell danger

A leading Harvard-trained dermatologist has issued a stark warning to the public: some seemingly harmless spots or pimples on your skin may actually be signs of skin cancer and should not be ignored.

Dr. Daniel Sugai, a board-certified dermatologist, took to his popular TikTok account this week to urge individuals to seek medical attention for any skin blemishes that do not heal within a month. “If you have a pimple on your skin that doesn’t go away within four weeks, please see a dermatologist,” Sugai advised.

He also drew attention to another common but concerning symptom: recurring blood spots. “Another complaint I hear from patients is, ‘I just washed my face, and there was this one spot that kept bleeding — it keeps peeling and won’t heal,’” he said. Sugai stressed that any skin lesion that bleeds easily, appears fragile, or fails to fully heal warrants immediate examination by a specialist.

These symptoms, according to Sugai, may be early indicators of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) — the most common form of skin cancer. BCC affects approximately 3.6 million Americans annually, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Basal cell carcinoma arises in the skin’s basal cells, which are responsible for producing new skin cells as old ones die off. The cancer is characterized by the formation of fragile, tree-like blood vessels that make the affected area especially prone to bleeding.

Dr. Sugai, who diagnoses and treats BCC cases on a daily basis, emphasized that prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun is a leading cause of this form of cancer. He warned that childhood sunburns can have long-term consequences, increasing the risk of DNA damage that may result in skin cancer later in life.

The dermatologist’s message serves as an important reminder to regularly monitor your skin and seek professional advice for any suspicious or persistent changes.