What Is Skin Cancer? Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Knowing the risk factors for skin cancer and how to detect the warning signs can usually lead to an early diagnosis, proper treatment, and much better outcomes.

Three Types of Skin Cells That Can Become Malignant

Your skin’s outer layer (the epidermis) contains three different types of cells that can develop into skin cancer:

• Squamous cells make up most of the surface layer. They are flat and shed off naturally as new replacement cells grow. If damaged, they can form squamous cell carcinoma.
• Basal cells sit underneath squamous cells. They will ultimately become squamous cells as they gradually mature, grow larger, and make their way to the skin’s surface. When they go rogue, basal cell carcinoma can form.
• Melanocytes produce pigment (melanin), which helps protect against UV rays. If melanocytes mutate, melanoma can develop.

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Types of Skin Cancer: What Makes Them Different?

There are three main categories of skin cancer, each affecting a different type of skin cell.

Basal Cell Carcinoma This type of cancer is almost always completely curable if treated early, since it rarely spreads to other parts of the body. However, if left untreated, it can destroy skin, deep tissue, and bone, which can be disfiguring or cause functional problems.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Squamous cell skin cancer is also highly treatable, but unlike basal cell carcinoma, it is more likely to spread. Although metastatic (meaning the cancer that has spread to a new area) squamous cell cancer is uncommon, it can be life-threatening.

Rare Types of Skin Cancer

There are other types of skin cancer, but they are much more rare. In fact, together they make up less than 1 percent of all instances of skin cancer.

Skin Cancer: What Are the Risk Factors?

Skin cancer can develop due to several different risk factors. Some of those risks can be genetic and outside of your control, but many are preventable or manageable.

Excessive Sun Exposure One of the biggest factors is also one of the most preventable. Prolonged or intense sun exposure, especially during peak hours, can lead to damaged skin cells from UV rays.

Tanning Beds Similar to sun exposure, the use of tanning beds exposes the skin to concentrated UV radiation.

Fair Skin People with lighter skin, especially those with freckles or red or blonde hair, have less melanin and less natural protection against UV rays.

Age The risk of skin cancer increases with age, as skin cells accumulate damage over time from sun exposure and other environmental factors.

Family History A family history of skin cancer, particularly melanoma, can increase your risk.

Moles and Freckles Those with numerous or atypical moles are at a higher risk of melanoma, as these moles may develop into cancerous growths.

Skin Cancer Symptoms: How to Spot Them Early

Some skin cancers can closely resemble normal skin or even a harmless mole, but there are certain signs to watch out for. Key warning signs are different depending on the type of skin cancer.

Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• An open sore that repeatedly bleeds and crusts over
• A pink bump with raised edges and a depression in the center
• Pink, reddish, or brown patches that lie flat against the skin

Melanoma

• Asymmetrical shape (uneven sides)
• Notched or irregular edges instead of smooth ones
• Multiple colors within the mole (such as brown, black, red, or even blue)

Skin Cancer Treatment: Which One Is Right for You?

Treatment options vary depending on the type, size, and location of the cancer. The most common treatments include:

Surgical Removal The most common treatment, especially for basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas, involves cutting out the tumor and some surrounding tissue to ensure that all the cancer cells are removed.

Cryosurgery This treatment uses an instrument to freeze and destroy the abnormal cancer or precancer cells.

Mohs Surgery This precise technique is often used for cancers in sensitive areas, like the face. Layers of skin are removed and examined until only healthy tissue remains.

Electrodessication A treatment for small basal cell carcinomas, this uses heat to destroy cancer cells after they’ve been scraped off the skin.

Photodynamic Therapy This uses a special light to activate a photosensitizing medication that kills cancerous cells, and is often used for superficial skin cancers.

Radiation Therapy This uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells and is used to treat basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma.

Targeted Therapy This therapy uses drugs or other substances to find and attack specific cancer cells and is often used for basal cell carcinoma.

If you’ve been diagnosed with skin cancer, your doctor will share which treatments options are available for your type of cancer and which ones might be right for you.

How Doctors Diagnose Skin Cancer

If your doctor suspects skin cancer may be present, they’ll usually start with a skin exam that carefully checks any suspicious moles, growths, or patches. They may use a handheld device called a dermatoscope to get a closer look at structures beneath the skin’s surface.

The next step is often a skin biopsy. This is a quick, outpatient procedure where your doctor removes a small sample of the abnormal tissue. This sample is then examined under a microscope to determine whether cancer is present, and if so, what type of cancer it is.

In some cases, especially when melanoma is diagnosed or the cancer appears large or aggressive, staging tests may be necessary. These tests help determine whether or not the cancer has spread.

Common tools include:

• Imaging tests (like computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans) to check lymph nodes or organs
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy, which identifies the first lymph node the cancer may have spread to

Skin Cancer Staging: What Are the Stages of Skin Cancer?

Staging is how doctors describe the size of the cancer and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Stages range from 0 to 4, with higher numbers representing more serious or severe cases.

Skin cancer stages typically range from stage 0 to stage 4:

• Stage 0 Sometimes called “in situ” — the cancer cells are only in the top layer of skin and haven’t spread.
• Stage 1 The cancer is still in the skin but may be growing deeper.
• Stage 2 Similar to stage 1, but indicates the presence of a larger or thicker tumor.
• Stage 3 The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage 4 The cancer has spread (metastasized) to other organs or distant parts of the body.

Help Navigating a Skin Cancer Diagnosis

It’s important to keep in mind that most skin cancers are not life-threatening and are not a major cause for alarm if treated quickly. A good first step is to learn about the nature of your condition and discuss your treatment options with your doctor. You may even want to find a network of support to help lead you through the maze of treatments and aftercare. Here are some of our favorite resources:

Additional reporting by Becky Upham.