Skin Cancer Awareness

Six Main Types of Skin Cancer 

1. Basal and Squamous cell carcinoma – starts in the basal cell layer, which is the lower part of the epidermis. About 8 out of 10 skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas.
2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma – begin in the flat cells in the upper (outer) part of the epidermis and are commonly found on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ears, neck, lips, arms, and backs of the hands.
3. Melanoma – Much less common than basal and squamous cell cancers and develops when melanocytes (the cells that give the skin its tan or brown color) start to grow out of control¹.
4. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) – is a rare type of skin cancer that starts when Merkel cells in the skin start to grow out of control. It is also sometimes called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin or trabecular carcinoma².
5. Lymphoma of the skin – when a non-Hodgkin lymphoma starts only in the skin (not in other organs or tissues)³.
6. Kaposi Sarcoma – cancer that develops from the cells that line lymph or blood vessels. It usually appears as tumors on the skin or on mucosal surfaces such as inside the mouth but can also develop in other parts of the body – lymph nodes, the lungs, or digestive tract⁴.

Lower Your Risk

There is no sure way to prevent skin cancer. Some risk factors such as your age, race, and family history can’t be controlled. But there are things you can do to lower your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers⁵:

• Stay in the shade.
• Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs
• Wear a hat with a wide brim to shade your face, head, ears, and neck.
• Wear sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays.
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
• Avoid tanning beds.

Helpful Resources

If you would like to read further about skin cancer or prevention, here are some recommended resources:

SPOT Skin Cancer™

Melanoma Research Alliance

National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention