Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. More than 2 million cases are diagnosed each year. About 20% of people in the United States will have skin cancer at least once by age 70.
The three most common types of skin cancer are:
Basal cell carcinoma: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. These are slow growing and seldom spread, but can invade and destroy underlying tissues and bone if left untreated. Read more about basal cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin: Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin is the second most common type of skin cancer. It can grow more rapidly than basal cell carcinoma and is more likely to metastasize. It is also more likely to invade and destroy underlying bone and muscle if not treated. However, most cases are not life threatening. Read more about squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
Melanoma: Melanoma is cancer that begins in the cells that produce skin pigment. It is less common than basal or squamous cell skin cancers, but it is more dangerous and can be deadly. If caught early, there is nearly a 97% chance for cure. Read more about melanoma.
This page focuses on basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are sometimes referred to as non-melanoma skin cancer. When found early, non-melanoma skin cancers can be cured in most cases.
Melanoma is more aggressive than non-melanoma skin cancers and is treated differently. More information on melanoma can be found on our melanoma disease page.
Skin cancer risk factors
Anything that increases your odds of developing skin cancer is a risk factor.
Skin cancer risk factors include:
- Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure: Extensive lifetime sun exposure or occasional intense exposure causing a sunburn.
- Tanning bed use.
- Age: The longer you are exposed to the sun over time, the higher your risk of developing skin cancer.
- Having a fair complexion, blond or red hair, freckles, blue eyes and/or a tendency to sunburn.
- Being immunocompromised, typically due to taking immunosuppressive drugs.
- A personal history of skin cancer.
- Certain rare genetic disorders, including xeroderma pigmentosum and basal cell nevus syndrome.
- Previous serious skin injuries, such as a major scar or burn.
- Actinic (solar) keratosis. This is a precancerous lesion. About 5% develop into a non-melanoma skin cancer. It can appear as rough, red and scaly patches on the skin. It may be tender and is often more easily felt than seen. Like skin cancer, actinic keratosis usually is found on sun-exposed areas of the body.
Not everyone with risk factors gets skin cancer. However, if you have risk factors, it’s a good idea to discuss them with your health care provider.
Some people have an elevated risk of developing skin cancer. Review the skin cancer screening guidelines to see if you need to be tested.
Behavioral and lifestyle changes can help prevent skin cancer. Visit our prevention and screening section to learn how to manage your risk.
In rare cases, skin cancer can be passed down from one generation to the next. Genetic counseling may be right for you. Visit our genetic testing page to learn more.
What are the symptoms of skin cancer?
Skin cancer symptoms can vary depending on the type of skin cancer and its location on the skin. In general, any new or changing spots on your skin that persist for two weeks or more should be brought to your doctor’s attention.
The most common location for certain kinds of skin cancer is on sun-exposed skin such as the face, neck, arms and legs. Skin cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages, though symptoms can appear at any point.
Skin cancer symptoms may include:
- A new spot on the skin or an existing spot that changes in size, shape or color. These changes can vary greatly so there is no one way to describe how a skin cancer looks.
- A spot that is itchy or painful
- A non-healing sore that bleeds or develops a crust
- A red- or skin-colored shiny bump on the top of the skin
- A red rough or scaly spot that you can feel
- A growth with a raised border and central crust or bleeding
- A wart-like growth
- A scar-like growth without a well-defined border
Some people have an elevated risk of developing skin cancer. Review the skin cancer screening guidelines to see if you need to be tested.
Behavioral and lifestyle changes can help prevent skin cancer. Visit our prevention and screening section to learn how to manage your risk.
In rare cases, skin cancer can be passed down from one generation to the next. Genetic counseling may be right for you. Visit our genetic testing page to learn more.
Did You Know?
Tanning beds aren't safer than tanning outdoors. They emit the same harmful UV rays as the sun and put users at increased risk of melanoma.
How is skin cancer diagnosed?
A skin cancer diagnosis will usually being with a physical exam by a physician looking for suspected areas of the disease. To get a definitive diagnosis, this suspicious tissue must be examined under a microscope. The process of retrieving this tissue is known as a biopsy.
There are different types of biopsies to diagnose skin cancer. Doctors recommend the specific procedure based on the size, shape and location of the growth. Patients typically are given a local anesthetic before the procedure and may receive stitches afterward to close the wound.
Types of skin cancer biopsies
Local excision/excisional biopsy: All or part of the suspicious area is removed with a scalpel under local anesthetic. Depending on the size and location of the area, this type of biopsy may be done in a doctor's office or as an outpatient procedure at a hospital. If the growth is small enough to be removed entirely during the biopsy, local excision can be both a diagnostic procedure and a treatment.
Punch biopsy: The doctor uses a special tool to punch through the suspicious area and remove a round cylinder of tissue. If needed, patients may receive stitches to close the wound.
Shave biopsy: The doctor shaves off a piece of the growth. This can be performed with a scalpel, surgical scissors or other special tools. Typically, no stitches are needed.
Biopsy results
After the biopsy procedure, the skin sample is sent to a pathologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing disease. After examining the tissue under a microscope, the pathologist will make a diagnosis.
Abnormal results include benign (non-cancerous) growths such as moles, warts and benign skin tumors. If the sample reveals cancer, the pathologist will determine if it is a basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma.
Getting a skin cancer second opinion at MD Anderson
The pathologists at MD Anderson are highly specialized in diagnosing common and rare skin cancers. We welcome the opportunity to provide second opinions for skin cancer.
Some people have an elevated risk of developing skin cancer. Review the skin cancer screening guidelines to see if you need to be tested.
Behavioral and lifestyle changes can help prevent skin cancer. Visit our prevention and screening section to learn how to manage your risk.
In rare cases, skin cancer can be passed down from one generation to the next. Genetic counseling may be right for you. Visit our genetic testing page to learn more.
What are the treatment options for skin cancer?
Our approach to skin cancer treatment
Your skin cancer treatment at MD Anderson includes a plan customized to your specific type of cancer. Basal and squamous cell skin cancers usually are removed by one of the treatments listed below.
Skin cancer excision
During this procedure, a doctor numbs the diseased area with a local anesthetic and then cuts it out entirely. Typically, a small amount of healthy tissue around the area is removed as well. If the patient has not been previously diagnosed, the tissue is sent to a pathologist, who examines the sample to confirm the diagnosis.
Mohs surgery for skin cancer
During this procedure, a dermatologic surgeon removes a very thin layer of cancer tissue and examines it under a microscope. If skin cancer cells can be seen in the layer, the doctor continues shaving off layers one at a time until no cancer cells are found. This procedure has a very high cure rate and typically results in less scarring than excisions.
Mohs surgery is usually performed at a doctor’s office. The patient’s skin is numbed and occasionally a mild sedative is given. MD Anderson has a Mohs and Dermasurgery Center dedicated to this procedure.
Cryosurgery for skin cancer
Cryosurgery is less invasive than conventional surgery. It is often used to treat actinic keratosis (a precancerous skin condition) and occasionally used for small, newly developed skin cancers.
During this procedure, the doctor uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy diseased tissue. This process may be repeated. Because the doctor can focus cryosurgical treatment on a limited area, destruction of nearby healthy tissue is typically avoided.
Topical chemotherapy for skin cancer
Chemotherapy drugs work by killing fast-growing cells, such as cancer cells. Skin cancer chemotherapy is delivered as a topical ointment that is applied to the affected skin. At the end of treatment, patients may have redness and some crusting on their skin, which typically heals in two to three weeks. Like cryosurgery, topical chemotherapy it is used to treat actinic keratosis and superficial skin cancers. Cryosurgery is usually limited to small areas, while topical chemotherapy can cover large sections of skin, such as a patient’s entire face.
Laser surgery for skin cancer
Lasers surgery is used to treat precancerous conditions like actinic keratosis and early, superficial skin cancers. During laser surgery, doctors use an intense, focused beam of light to destroy skin cancer.
The laser can be set to remove the skin in controlled layers, depending on the depth of the cancer. The surgeon may remove the top layer only or the top layer plus additional deeper layers.
The laser destruction, plus the body's immune response to the injury, results in a blistered wound that takes several weeks to heal.
Electrodessication and curettage
During this procedure, doctors use a scraping instrument (curette) and electrical currents to destroy and remove small and superficial skin cancers.
High-risk or metastatic skin cancer treatment
When a patient’s skin cancer has spread or is at high risk of spreading, treatment can become more complex. At MD Anderson, these treatment plans are developed by a team of doctors from multiple disciplines, including dermatology, radiation oncology and the different surgical specialties. A high-risk skin cancer on the head or neck, for instance, may be treated by a head and neck surgeon. These doctors meet to discuss the patient’s case and work together to develop a treatment plan. Treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and more.
Skin cancer clinical trials
Because of its status as one of the world’s premier cancer centers, MD Anderson participates in many clinical trials for skin cancer. Sometimes they are a patient’s best option for skin cancer treatment. Learn more about clinical trials.
Why choose MD Anderson for skin cancer care?
At MD Anderson’s Ben Love/El Paso Corporation Melanoma and Skin Center, your skin cancer treatment is personalized to provide the most advanced therapies with the best outcomes and fewest side effects.
Our skin cancer program is one of the largest in the nation. This gives us a level of experience and expertise found in few other centers.
Renowned experts from multiple disciplines work together to customize your care. Beginning with the most accurate diagnosis possible, we offer comprehensive, specialized care for every type of skin cancer.
We're constantly researching newer, safer, and more effective ways to prevent, diagnose and treat skin cancer. This allows us to offer the best possible treatment at any point in your skin cancer care, ranging from established therapies to new interventions.
You are not alone. There are so many of us who know what it's like to be thrown the curve ball of cancer. Fight on, and never give up.
