Skin Cancer: Types, Symptoms, and Prevention

Skin cancer is a disease that involves the growth of abnormal cells in your skin tissues. Normally, as skin cells age and die, they are replaced by new cells. When this process doesn’t work as it should—such as after exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun—cells grow more rapidly. These cells can be non-cancerous (benign), which do not spread or cause harm. Or they may develop cancer.

Skin cancer can spread to nearby tissues or other parts of your body if it’s not caught early. Fortunately, most skin cancers are curable if detected and treated in the early stages. So, see your healthcare provider if you think you have any symptoms of skin cancer.

Type of skin cancer.

There are three main types of skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma, which forms in your basal cells in the lower layer of your epidermis (the outer layer of your skin).
Squamous cell carcinoma, which forms in your squamous cells in the outer layer of your skin.
Melanoma, which forms in cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, the brown pigment that gives your skin its color and protects it from some of the sun’s harmful UV rays. This is the most serious type of skin cancer because it can spread to other parts of your body.

Among other types of skin cancer.

 (1)Kaposi’s sarcoma.

 (2)Merkel cell carcinoma.

 (3)Sebaceous gland carcinoma.

 (4)Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

How common is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. In fact, about 1 in 5 people will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives.

What are the signs and symptoms of skin cancer?

The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change in your skin – usually a new growth or a change in an existing growth or mole. Symptoms of skin cancer include:

A new mole. or a mole that changes in size, shape, or color, or that is bleeding.
A pearly or waxy bump on your face, ears, or neck.
A flat, pink/red- or brown-colored patch or bump.
Areas of your skin that look like blemishes.
Lesions that look rough, have a depression in the center, or bleed frequently.
A wound or sore that doesn’t heal, or that heals but comes back.
A rough, crusty sore that may itch, bleed, and crust over.

What is the cause of the condition?

The main cause of skin cancer is overexposure to the sun, especially when you get sunburns and blisters. UV rays from the sun damage your skin’s DNA, causing abnormal cells to form. These abnormal cells divide rapidly in an unregulated manner, forming a large proportion of cancer cells.

What are the risk factors for skin cancer?

Some groups get it more than others. Before age 50, skin cancer is more common in women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB). After 50, though, it’s more common in men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB). And it’s about 30 times more common in non-Hispanic white people than in non-Hispanic black people or people of Asian/Pacific Islander descent. Unfortunately, skin cancer is diagnosed at later stages in people with darker skin tones. This makes it more difficult to treat.

Although anyone can get skin cancer, your risk increases if you have:

(1).    Spend plenty of time working or playing in the sun.

(2).   Burn easily in the sun or have a history of sunburn.

(3).    Live in sunny or high altitude climates.

(4)     Use a tan or tanning bed.

(5)     Light-colored eyes, blond or red hair, and fair or wrinkled skin.

(6).   There are many moles or irregularly shaped moles.

(7).   Actinic keratoses (abnormal skin growths that are rough, scaly, dark pink to brown patches)
There is a family history of skin cancer.

(8). Organs have been transplanted.

(9). Take medications that suppress or weaken your immune system.

(10). Skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis have been exposed to UV light therapy.