What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is the out-of-control growth of abnormal cells in the epidermis, the outermost skin layer, caused by unrepaired DNA damage that triggers mutations. These mutations lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. The main types of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

The two main causes of skin cancer are the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and the use of UV tanning beds. The good news is that if skin cancer is caught early, your dermatologist can treat it with little or no scarring and high odds of eliminating it entirely. Often, the doctor may even detect the growth at a precancerous stage, before it has become a full-blown skin cancer or penetrated below the surface of the skin.

Basal cell carcinoma

• What is it? Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are abnormal, uncontrolled growths that arise from the skin’s basal cells in the outermost layer of skin (epidermis).

• Where is it usually found? These cancers most often develop on skin areas typically exposed to the sun, especially the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders and back.

• What causes it? 

  Most BCCs are caused by the combination of intermittent, intense exposure and cumulative, long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun.

• How many people get it? BCC is the most common form of skin cancer, with more than 4 million cases diagnosed in the United States each year.

• How serious is it? BCCs can be locally destructive if not detected and treated early. Occasionally these cancers metastasize (spread); and in very rare instances they can be fatal.

Squamous cell carcinoma

• What is it? Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells arising from the squamous cells in the outmost layer of skin (epidermis).

• Where is it usually found? SCCs are common on sun-exposed areas such as the ears, face, scalp, neck and hands, where the skin often reveals signs of sun damage, including wrinkles and age spots.

• What causes it? Cumulative, long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun and tanning beds causes most SCCs.

• How many people get it? SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer. More than 1 million cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S.

• How serious is it? SCCs can sometimes grow rapidly and metastasize if not detected and treated early. As many as 15,000 deaths occur from invasive SCC of the skin each year in the U.S.

Merkel cell carcinoma

• What is it? Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, aggressive skin cancer.

• Where is it usually found? These tumors usually appear as firm, painless lesions or nodules on a sun-exposed area (about half of the time on the head and neck, and frequently on the eyelids).

• What causes it? Usually associated with a virus called the Merkel cell polyomavirus, MCCs most often arise on sun-exposed areas in fair-skinned individuals over age 50.

• How many people get it? About 3,000 new cases of MCC and about 700 deaths from it occur in the U.S. each year, and that is expected to rise.

• How serious is it? MCCs are at high risk of recurring and metastasizing throughout the body, so early detection and treatment are crucial.

Melanoma

• What is it? Melanoma is a cancer that develops from melanocytes, the skin cells that produce melanin pigment, which gives skin its color.

• Where is it usually found? Melanomas often resemble moles and sometimes may arise from them. They can be found on any area of the body, even in areas that are not typically exposed to the sun.

• What causes it? Melanoma is often triggered by the kind of intense, intermittent sun exposure that leads to sunburn. Tanning bed use also increases risk for melanoma.

• How many people get it? In 2020, more than 196,060 new cases of melanoma are expected to occur in the U.S., about 100,350 of which will be invasive.

• How serious is it? Melanoma is the most dangerous of the three most common forms of skin cancer. Melanomas can be curable when caught and treated early. In 2020, melanoma is projected to cause about 6,850 deaths.