Skin cancer consists of a malignant growth, which usually develops in the outermost layer of the skin called the epidermis, meaning that a tumour is generally clearly visible. Skin cancer rarely spreads beyond the skin, apart from malignant melanoma.
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Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in humans. It consists of a malignant growth, which usually develops in the outermost layer of the skin called the epidermis, meaning that a tumour is generally clearly visible. It primarily develops on areas of skin that are exposed to the sun such as the scalp, face, ears, lips, neck, chest, arms and hands. Skin cancer rarely spreads beyond the skin, apart from malignant melanoma (See below).
The epidermis contains three different types of cells:
There are three main types of skin cancer:
Skin cancer is more likely to develop in people that show the following risk factors:
Ultraviolet radiation that is found in sunlight and tanning beds/lamps is the best-known cause of skin cancer, with both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) contributing to skin cancer development. Therefore, the best way to prevent skin cancer is to protect yourself from the sun by doing the following:
Warning signs of skin cancer
The most common warning sign is a change on the skin, particularly a new growth or a sore that doesn’t heal. Skin cancer might start as any of the following:
Various skin cancer screening options include:
Mole checks: a dermatologist will examine skin and use a dermatoscope to look at the networks in your moles more closely. They will determine if moles have any abnormalities or need further monitoring or removal.
Mole mapping: an advanced whole body 3D imaging system which captures the entire skin surface to map and monitor pigmented lesions, all in 10 seconds.
Dr Katie Lacy, one of our leading dermatologists, has taken a closer look at the clinical rationale behind mole mapping in detecting skin cancer.
If you have an area of skin that looks abnormal, your doctor will remove all or part of the growth to perform a biopsy. They send the tissue they have taken for a histopathologic examination to check for cancer cells. This is the only way to be certain if cancer is causing the abnormality in your skin.
The main goal when treating skin cancer is to completely remove or destroy the cancer without leaving too much of a scar. Treatment options will depend on the size and location of the cancer, the risk of scarring, your age, general health and medical history. These options include:
Learn more about how cancerous moles are treated.
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