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Overview of Skin Cancer

By

Vinod E. Nambudiri

, MD, MBA, EdM, Harvard Medical School

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2024
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Topic Resources

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer, and people of all skin tones can be affected. People who have light skin are particularly susceptible to developing most forms of skin cancer because they produce less melanin. Melanin, the protective pigment in the outer layer of skin (epidermis), helps protect the skin from ultraviolet (UV) light damage Ultraviolet light Sunlight stimulates vitamin D production, helps control some chronic skin diseases (such as psoriasis), and causes a sense of well-being. However, sunlight can cause skin damage. Damage includes... read more Ultraviolet light . However, skin cancer also can develop in people who have dark skin and in people who have not had significant sun exposure to their skin.

Skin cancer is more common among people who spend a lot of time outdoors for work or recreation. Skin cancers can be found on any location of the body but are most commonly diagnosed on areas that are often exposed to the sun such as the head and neck.

Skin cancers may also develop years after radiation therapy or exposure to substances that cause cancer (for example, ingestion of arsenic).

Over 5.4 million new cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer (such as basal cell skin cancer and squamous cell skin cancer) were diagnosed in 2012 in the United States.

The three most common types of skin cancer are

These three types are caused, at least in part, by long-term sun exposure.

Less common types of skin cancer are

Many skin cancers are curable, especially when treated at an early stage. At first, skin cancers typically do not cause any symptoms. Therefore, any unusual skin growth that enlarges or lasts for more than a few weeks should be examined by a doctor.

Skin Cancer
VIDEO

Treatment of Skin Cancer

Doctors treat most skin cancers by removing them surgically. Usually, the scar that is left after surgery depends on the size of the original cancer, which, if caught early, may be small.

In addition to surgical removal, very small or very thin skin cancers may be treated with medicated creams, liquid nitrogen, or procedural techniques such as curettage (the cancer tissue is scraped off).

Larger or more invasive cancer may require surgical removal of a significant amount of skin, which may have to be replaced with a skin graft or a skin flap.

With a skin graft Skin Tissue transplantation is the removal of various tissues, such as skin cells, corneas, cartilage, or bone, from a body and then inserting that tissue into the same or another person who has... read more , a piece of skin is removed from another area of the person's body, typically where the skin is loose. The piece of skin is sewn onto the area where the cancer was removed.

With a skin flap, doctors transfer skin from an adjacent area to replace the area where the cancer was removed. With a flap, but not with a graft, the transferred skin is not cut completely free, so it still has its own blood supply. Also, a flap is usually thicker than a graft.

Skin cancers that have spread to other parts of the body or that are too big to remove surgically may require additional forms of treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapy.

Prevention of Skin Cancer

Did You Know...

  • Most skin cancers are caused, at least in part, by spending a lot of time in the sun.

Using tanning beds, particularly by young people, may increase the risk of melanoma.

Screening for skin cancer

People should regularly check their own skin and notify a health care professional if they notice any unusual or changed skin marks.

People may want to consider having an annual skin examination by a health care professional if they

More Information

The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that THE MANUAL is not responsible for the content of these resources.

NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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