Skin Cancer Basics
Since one in five Americans will get skin cancer by the age of 70, it’s a great preventative step to understand skin cancer basics so you can be alert to changes in your own skin. Let’s go over the basics of four types of skin cancer: melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. The good news is that if skin cancer is found and treated early, your dermatologist can probably eliminate it entirely, with very little scarring.[i]
In a nutshell, skin cancer is when cells in the epidermis, which is the outer layer of skin, grow uncontrollably. This is due to DNA damage, which then causes mutations in the cells. The cells form malignant tumors as they multiply quickly. The sun’s harmful UV rays and UV tanning beds are two primary causes of skin cancer, so protecting yourself from the sun and not using tanning booths are excellent ways to lower your risk of any type of skin cancer.[ii]
Melanoma
Melanoma skin cancer is caused when skin cells called melanocytes grow uncontrollably. These cells make a brown pigment called melanin which gives color to our skin.[iii] Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer because it can metastasize, or spread[iv], to other organs in the body. There were over 207,390 new cases of this kind of skin cancer in 2021.Usually, melanomas look like moles and can be found on any part of the body. Even though melanomas are often caused by sunburns or tanning beds, they can even grow in spots that aren’t usually exposed to the sun.[v]
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is caused when skin cells called squamous cells in the epidermis grow out of control. This type of skin cancer can grow very quickly and metastasize, so it is important to catch it early and treat it. Squamous cell carcinomas are most often found on the hands, face, scalp, neck and ears; areas that are exposed to the sun a lot. This type of skin cancer is the second most common type of skin cancer, with approximately 1.8 million cases diagnosed in the U.S. every year. Like melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma is caused by UV exposure.[vi]
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma occurs when skin cells called basal cells grow abnormally and out of control in the epidermis. With approximately 3.6 million cases diagnosed each year in the United States, it is the most common type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is usually found in the skin that is often exposed to the sun, such as the shoulders, back, face, ears, neck, and scalp. It is rarely fatal, although sometimes the cancer does metastasize to other parts of the body. The cancer looks like a flat, pale area that may be shiny or pink. Generally, this type of cancer grows slowly.[vii]
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Merkel cell carcinoma is an aggressive, rare type of skin cancer that is associated with the Merkel cell polyomavirus. Only about 3,000 of cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. This type of cancer often looks like a bluish-red or flesh-tinted nodule on a person’s neck, head, or face.[viii] It usually appears on skin that is exposed to the sun, primarily in fair-skinned people who are over age 50, and people who have a weaker immune system are at higher risk. Merkel cell carcinoma patients have a high degree of recurrence, and the cancer can metastasize to other parts of the body. It is essential to find this kind of skin cancer early and treat it. There are about 700 deaths due to Merkel cell carcinoma in the United States every year.[ix]
Learning about skin cancer is a practical step to take to preserve skin health, so give yourself a pat on the back while applying your sunscreen. The good news is that catching it early can make a great difference in the prognosis for these four types of skin cancer. Know your moles, protect yourself in the sun, and take good care of the skin you are in!
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[i][i] https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/?gclid=CjwKCAjwn8SLBhAyEiwAHNTJbQgGDAoX-B5vDJedPQ125N1GNZZfqjeGksq_l6d9rLaD06z0EkiVmxoCyZQQAvD_BwE
[ii] https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/?gclid=CjwKCAjwn8SLBhAyEiwAHNTJbQgGDAoX-B5vDJedPQ125N1GNZZfqjeGksq_l6d9rLaD06z0EkiVmxoCyZQQAvD_BwE
[iii] https://www.cancer.org/cancer/melanoma-skin-cancer/if-you-have-melanoma.html
[iv] https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/metastasize
[v] https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/?gclid=CjwKCAjwn8SLBhAyEiwAHNTJbQgGDAoX-B5vDJedPQ125N1GNZZfqjeGksq_l6d9rLaD06z0EkiVmxoCyZQQAvD_BwE#melanoma, https://www.curemelanoma.org/about-melanoma/
[vi] https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/?gclid=CjwKCAjwn8SLBhAyEiwAHNTJbQgGDAoX-B5vDJedPQ125N1GNZZfqjeGksq_l6d9rLaD06z0EkiVmxoCyZQQAvD_BwE#melanoma, https://www.webmd.com/melanoma-skin-cancer/melanoma-guide/squamous-cell-carcinoma#1
[vii] https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/276624-overview#a1, https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/types/common/bcc, https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/?gclid=CjwKCAjwn8SLBhAyEiwAHNTJbQgGDAoX-B5vDJedPQ125N1GNZZfqjeGksq_l6d9rLaD06z0EkiVmxoCyZQQAvD_BwE
[viii] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/merkel-cell-carcinoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351030
[ix] https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/?gclid=CjwKCAjwn8SLBhAyEiwAHNTJbQgGDAoX-B5vDJedPQ125N1GNZZfqjeGksq_l6d9rLaD06z0EkiVmxoCyZQQAvD_BwE#melanoma, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/merkel-cell-carcinoma/symptoms-causes/syc-20351030