How do doctors test and diagnose skin cancer?

So the first thing that will happen is a full skin examination and this is when a dermatologist examines your entire skin with a device known as a dermatoscope which is a special magnifying lens. If a lesion is then seen that is suspicious or concerning a biopsy will take place and this is when either a small piece of a lesion or the lesion in its entirety is removed and sent to the laboratory for testing. This is the gold standard test to see if there's a cancer present and then depending on this result you may then go on to have further tests to see if that cancer has spread.