Skin Cancer

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma begins in the basal cells, which are the skin cells that replace old cells in the lower level of the epidermis. This type of skin cancer usually appears on the surface of the skin.
Typically, basal cell carcinoma doesn’t spread to other areas of the body. In rare cases where it does, it can be life threatening.

Squamous cell cancer

Squamous cell cancer affects the cells on the outermost part of the epidermis.
Squamous cells can also be found in areas like the lungs and mucous membranes. When squamous cell cancer forms in the skin, it’s known as cutaneous squamous cell cancer.
This type of cancer is most commonly found on areas of the body frequently exposed to ultraviolet (UV) sunlight. It’s a very treatable condition, but it can become life threatening without treatment.

Melanoma

Another category of skin cancer is melanoma, which accounts for about 1 percent Trusted Source of all skin cancers. This type of cancer develops from cells that give your skin color. These cells are known as melanocytes. Noncancerous moles are formed by melanocytes but can become cancerous.
Melanomas can develop anywhere in your body. They are more commonTrusted Source on the chest and back in men and on the legs in women.
Most melanomas are treatable when caught early. However, without treatment, they can spread to other parts of your body and become harder to treat. In addition, melanomas are more likely to spread than basal and squamous cell skin cancers.

Merkel cell skin cancer

Merkel cell skin cancer is a rare form of skin cancer caused by an overgrowth of Merkel cells. According to a 2019 reviewTrusted Source, Merkel cells are a specialized kind of cell found in the epidermis.
A 2021 review showed an estimated 1,500 cases of Merkel cell cancer reported annually in the United States. It appears to occur more in men than in women, and more in white people.
Although uncommon, it is very dangerous since it can quickly spread to other parts of the body.

Lymphoma of the skin

The body has white blood cells that work as a part of the immune system to defend against infection and disease. These cells are also known as lymphocytes.

Kaposi sarcoma

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) appears as red, brown, or purple patches or tumors on the skin. The areas are also known as lesionsTrusted Source.

KS lesions typically appearTrusted Source on the legs, feet, or face. Lesions can also appear in the genital area, mouth, or lymph nodes. When they remain on the surface, you may not experience any symptoms.
However, KS lesions can spread inside your body, like to the throat or stomach. When they do this, they can cause bleeding and become life threatening.

Actin keratosis

These are often small patches of red, pink, or brown skin. They’re not cancerous, but are considered a form of precancer. Without treatment, these skin lesions may develop into squamous cell carcinoma.

Watch out for signs of skin cancer, including:

• Skin lesions. A new mole, unusual growth, bump, sore, scaly patch, or dark spot develops and doesn’t disappear.
• Asymmetry. The two halves of a lesion or mole aren’t identical.
• Border. Lesions have ragged, uneven edges.
• Color. A spot has an unusual color, such as white, pink, black, blue, or red. It could also have more than one color within a lesion.
• Diameter. The size is larger than 1/4 inch or about the size of a pencil eraser.
• Evolving. You can detect that the mole changes in any way, such as the size, shape, color, or symptoms like itching, pain, or bleeding.

It’s best to know all the possible warning signs if you think you have a spot on your skin that may be skin cancer.

Skin moles and lesions that could be cancer often look like spots that are not cancerous at all. Use these pictures of skin cancer as a guide to compare any spots on your body, but see a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis.

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Causes and Risk factors of skin cancer

Skin cancer occurs when mutations develop in the DNA of your skin cells. These mutations cause skin cells to grow uncontrollably and form a mass of cancer cells.

Many of the causes of skin cancer are unclear. Most moles don’t turn into melanomas, and researchers aren’t sure why some do.

However, risk factors may make you more prone to developing skin cancers, like melanoma.

UV light exposure

The trusted Source says exposure to UV light is a significant risk factor for many types of skin cancer. Sources of UV light exposure include:

• The sun
• Tanning beds
• Sun lamps

UV rays damage your skin cells. When the damage causes an overgrowth of cells, skin cancer develops.

Moles

As mentioned before, moles don’t always indicate skin cancer. However, they are more likely to develop into melanoma when you have many of them.

Light skin, light hair and freckling

People with lighter skin are at greater risk of skin cancer, especially those with:

• Naturally red or blonde hair
• Blue or green eyes
• Light skin that tends to burn or freckle easily in the sun

Family history of Skin cancer

If your parents, siblings, or children receive a diagnosis of melanoma, Cancer Research UK says you are at a higher risk. A Trusted Source suggests this could be due to a shared lifestyle of being in the sun, everyone sharing a light skin tone, or gene changes in the family.
If you do have a family history of skin cancer, experts suggest you:

• Perform self-skin checks once per month.
• Visit your dermatologist regularly for skin checks.
• Prioritize the use of sunscreen and other forms of sun protection.
• Avoid tanning beds and sun lamp exposure.

History of Skin cancer

If you’ve had skin cancer before, the chances are higher that you will experience it again.
A 2018 study of 969 participants with skin cancer found that 17 percent developed recurring skin cancer, especially if they were older adults. The alarming statistic shows the importance of regular follow-up visits with your doctor to monitor any reoccurrence carefully.
Also, it can even be a different type of skin cancer the next time. For example, if you have had squamous cell skin cancer, you are more likely to get melanoma.

Weakened Immune system

When other diseases or health treatments cause damage to your immune system, the chances are higher that you will develop skin cancer.
You might have a weakened immune system if you:

• Undergo chemotherapy
• Take certain medications
• Have an autoimmune disease that causes a weakened immune system

Older age

Even though skin cancer is seen in children and young adults, it is most common in people over 30 years old.

Your recommended treatment plan will depend on different factors. These include the cancer’s:

• Size
• Location
• Type
• Stage

After considering these factors, your healthcare team may recommend one or more of the following treatments:

• Cryosurgery. The growth is frozen using liquid nitrogen and destroys the tissue as it thaws.
• Excisional surgery. The physician cuts out the growth and some healthy skin surrounding it.
• Mohs surgery. The growth is removed layer by layer during this procedure. Each layer is examined under a microscope until no irregular cells are visible.
• Curettage and electrodesiccation. A long spoon-shaped blade scrapes away the cancer cells, and the remaining cells burn by an electric needle.
• Chemotherapy. This treatment can be taken orally, applied topically, or injected with a needle or intravenous (IV) line to kill the cancer cells.
• Photodynamic therapy. Laser light and drugs destroy the cancer cells.
• Radiation. High powered energy beams kill the cancer cells.
• Biological therapy. Biological treatments stimulate your immune system to fight cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy. Medications are used to Trusted Source your immune system to kill the cancer cells.