A small bump, dark spot, or sore on your finger may seem harmless at first. Many people assume dry skin, a wart, an insect bite, or a minor injury causes these changes. In many cases, that’s exactly what they are. However, when a lesion doesn’t heal, continues growing, changes color, or repeatedly bleeds, it deserves medical attention because it could be an early sign of skin cancer.

Although skin cancer is more commonly associated with the face, neck, and arms, it can also develop on the fingers and around or beneath the fingernails. Because finger skin cancer is relatively uncommon, many people don’t recognize the warning signs until the lesion has been present for months.

The encouraging news is that most skin cancers can be treated successfully when they’re detected early. Learning how to recognize suspicious changes and knowing when to consult a dermatologist can make a significant difference in treatment and recovery.