Skin cancer: Symptoms, types, and warning signs

10/29/2018

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. Melanoma is the most dangerous type, and it is less common than other forms of skin cancer.

In this article, we will describe the symptoms of the most common types of skin cancer and explain how to check the skin. We will also investigate prevention, causes, and risk factors, as well as diagnosis and treatments.

Symptoms and warning signs

Basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma are two examples of nonmelanoma skin cancer.

The U.S-based Skin Cancer Foundation says that everyone should examine their whole body, from head to toe, once a month, and take note of:

any new moles or growths
moles or growths that have grown
moles or growths that have changed significantly in another way
lesions that change, itch, bleed or have not healed

The most common sign of skin cancer is an abnormal pink or brown spot, patch, or mole.

There are different forms of skin cancer, and the most common are:

basal cell carcinoma
squamous cell carcinoma
melanoma

Melanoma is the type most likely to develop in a mole.

Enlarged lymph nodes can also signal skin cancer. Lymph nodes are small, bean-sized collections of immune cells beneath the skin. Many are in the neck, groin, and underarms.

Basal cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma

Melanoma

First, a doctor will examine the skin and take a medical history.

They will usually ask when the mark first appeared, if its appearance has changed, if it is ever painful or itchy, and if it bleeds.

The doctor will also ask about a person’s family history, and any other risk factors, such as lifetime sun exposure.

They may also check the rest of the body for other atypical moles and spots. Finally, they may feel the lymph nodes to determine if they are enlarged.

The doctor may refer a person to a dermatologist, a skin doctor, who may:

examine the mark with a dermatoscope, a handheld magnifying device
take a small sample of skin, a biopsy, and send it to a lab to check for signs of cancer

Causes and risk factors

Researchers do not know why certain cells become cancerous. However, they have identified risk factors for skin cancer.

The most important risk factor for melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. These damage the skin cells’ DNA, which controls how the cells grow, divide, and stay alive.

Most UV rays come from sunlight, but they also come from tanning beds.

Other risk factors include:

Moles – A person with more than 100 moles is more likely to develop melanoma.
Fair skin, light hair, and freckles – The risk of developing melanoma is higher among people with light skin. Those who burn easily have an increased risk.
Family history – Around 10 percent of people with the disease have a family history of it.
Personal history – Melanoma is likelier to form in a person who has already had it. People who have had basal or squamous cell cancers also have an increased risk of developing melanoma.

Preventing skin cancer

The best way to reduce the risk of skin cancer is to limit exposure to UV rays. A person can do this by using sunscreen, seeking shade, and covering up when outdoors.

Anyone wishing to prevent skin cancer should also avoid tanning beds and sunlamps.

A doctor usually removes basal cell and squamous cell cancers with minor surgery.

Radiation therapy is an alternative treatment when a person cannot undergo surgery. A doctor may also recommend this treatment when the cancer is in a place that would make surgery difficult, such as on the eyelids, nose, or ears.

For melanoma, the best treatment will depend on the stage and location of the cancer. If a doctor diagnoses melanoma early, they can usually remove it with minor surgery.

In some cases, doctors may suggest other types of surgery or radiation therapy.

Summary

Healthcare professionals advise people to check for symptoms of skin cancer regularly.

The most common types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Receiving a diagnosis early will improve the outlook, regardless of the type.

If a mole or mark has undefined or uneven edges, multiple colors, or is atypical in any way, this can indicate skin cancer, as can the appearance of sores that do not heal. Anyone with concerns about marks, moles, or lesions should speak to a doctor.

Exposure to UV light is the most significant risk factor for skin cancer. The best way to prevent the disease is to stay safe in the sun.

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