Take the Quiz: Skin Cancer

The most common types of skin cancer, basal cell cancers, squamous cell cancers, and melanoma, can almost always be cured in the early stages – when they’re small and have not spread..

According to one estimate, about 5.4 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed among 3.3 million people each year. (Many people are diagnosed with more than one spot of skin cancer at the same time.)

The number of skin cancers among people older than 50 has been increasing for many years. This is probably from a combination of better skin cancer detection, people getting more sun exposure, and people living longer.

The risk of skin cancer does go up with age, but these cancers are seen in younger people, too, probably because they're spending more time in the sun with their skin exposed. In fact, melanoma is one of the most common cancers in young adults – especially young women.

Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays is a major risk factor for most skin cancers. While sunlight is the main source of UV rays, tanning beds and lamps also use UV rays.

UV rays damage the DNA of skin cells. Skin cancers start when this damage affects the DNA of genes that control skin cell growth. People who get a lot of UV exposure – no matter what the source – are at greater risk for skin cancer.

Everyone’s skin and eyes can be affected by the sun and other forms of UV rays. People with light skin are much more likely to have sun damage, but darker-skinned people, of any ethnicity, can be affected, too.

Having dark skin lowers the risk of melanoma at the more common sites, like the legs, back, and chest, but anyone can develop it on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and under the nails. In fact, melanomas in these areas account for more than half of all melanomas in African Americans but fewer than 1 in 10 melanomas in White people.

Skin cancers can show up in many colors, shapes, and sizes.

Basal cell cancers and squamous cell cancers are most often found in areas that get a lot of sun, like the head, neck, and arms, but they can occur anywhere on the body. Look for new growths, spots, bumps, patches, or sores that don’t heal after several weeks.

The most important warning sign for melanoma is a new spot on the skin or a spot that’s changing in size, shape, or color. Another important sign is a spot that looks different from all of the other spots on your skin.

Be sure to show a health care provider any areas on your skin that concern you and ask the provider to look at areas that may be hard for you to see. It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference between skin cancer and an ordinary mole, even for health care providers, so it’s important to show a provider any skin change that you are unsure of.