Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a disease that involves the growth of abnormal cells in your skin tissues. Normally, as skin cells grow old and die, new cells form to replace them. When this process doesn’t work as it should — like after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun — cells grow more quickly. These cells may be noncancerous (benign), which don’t spread or cause harm. Or they may be cancerous.

Skin cancer can spread to nearby tissue or other areas in your body if it’s not caught early. Fortunately, if skin cancer is identified and treated in early stages, most are cured. So, it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider if you think you have any signs of skin cancer.

Types of skin cancer

There are three main types of skin cancer:

• Basal cell carcinoma, which forms in your basal cells in the lower part of your epidermis (the outside layer of your skin).
• Squamous cell carcinoma, which forms in your squamous cells in the outside layer of your skin.
• Melanoma, which forms in cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, a brown pigment that gives your skin its color and protects against some of the sun’s damaging UV rays. This is the most serious type of skin cancer because it can spread to other areas of your body.

Other types of skin cancer include:

• Kaposi sarcoma.
• Merkel cell carcinoma.
• Sebaceous gland carcinoma.
• Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

How common is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. In fact, about 1 in 5 people develop skin cancer at some point in their life.