Different Types of Skin Cancer

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than a million people develop a form of skin cancer every year, and 1 in 5 people in this country will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetimes. Skin cancer is a very serious and dangerous condition, and everyone needs to be on the lookout for signs and causes in order to protect themselves.

Pre-Cancerous Conditions

• Actinic keratoses vary wildly in size, from very small to more than 1 inch wide and can range in color from light to dark, tan to red or a mix of these shades and colors. Dysplastic nevi are unusually shaped moles that look similar to melanoma. People with dysplastic nevi also are more likely to get melanoma.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Basal cell carcinoma is common to the areas of the skin most often exposed to the sun, such as the ears and shoulders, and can appear as an open sore, a shiny, raised bump, or an irritated patch of red skin.

Melanoma

• Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer because it can spread rapidly to other organs. Common signs of melanoma are abnormally large moles, as well as moles or skin lesions with irregular borders and those that change colors.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Also common in areas of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun, squamous cell carcinomas can appear as crusty lesions or as red, inflamed areas of your skin.

Possible Treatments

• Mohs micrographic surgery is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for skin cancer currently available. It allows surgeons to remove the cancerous cells without damaging your surrounding skin.