Generality: Out of the many skin lesions occurring everyday, only an handful of these is malignant. Benign skin lesions are so numerous that only the most commonly identified ski lesions will discussed. The only good way to distinguish benign skin lesions from malignant is to obtain a specimen of the lesion or biopsy.
Benign lesions: are nevi (dark spots of the skin), warts, solar hyperkeratosis (raised, brownish skin lesion of the face or trunk), and cysts (round formations deep in the skin).
Malignant lesions are (from the most benign to the worst): basal cell 
carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Melanoma represent a category of malignant skin cancer by itself because of its extreme aggressiveness and requires specialized diagnostic techniques, treatment, and postoperative chemotherapy.
Screening of skin lesions is accomplished by close examination of all body including the scalp by a trained physician. The recognition of skin lesions and in particular the distinction between benign and malignant lesions is often impossible by the naked eye and requires a skin biopsy.
Anesthesia: Most lesions can be removed under local anesthesia in the office. Larger lesions will need to be removed under intravenous sedation (you will be sleepy but won't remember anything) or under general anesthesia.
Type of Procedure: Simple excision with primary skin closure is employed to removed most lesions. Larger lesions or malignant lesions may require specialized closure techniques of the larger skin defect (such as skin grafting or skin flap).
Recovery Time: Same day recovery for small lesions; longer recover (two to five days up to two weeks) for larger lesions or lesions requiring more elaborated closure techniques.
Postoperative Pain: Minimal for small lesion removal; minimal to moderate for more complex or extensive excisions.