Dermatology

Skin Growths and Pigmentation Disorders

Skin Cancer

malignant melanoma

Photograph Used By Permission: National Cancer Institute

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the skin cells and strikes more people worldwide than any other form of cancer. In the US alone, one million Americans will be diagnosed with the disease this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

What are the different types of skin cancer?

There are three main types of skin cancer, including:

Name	Description
basal cell carcinoma	Basal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 90 percent of all skin cancers. This highly treatable cancer starts in the basal cell layer of the epidermis (the top layer of skin) and grows very slowly. Basal cell carcinoma usually appears as a small, shiny bump or nodule on the skin - mainly those areas exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, arms, hands, and face. It commonly occurs among persons with light-colored eyes, hair, and complexion.
squamous cell carcinoma	Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 20 percent of all skin cancer cases. Although more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma, this cancer is highly treatable. Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as nodules or red, scaly patches of skin, and may be found on the face, ears, lips, and mouth. However, squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other parts of the body. This type of skin cancer is usually found in fair-skinned people.
malignant melanoma	Although less common, this type of skin cancer is the most deadly, accounting for approximately 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Malignant melanoma starts in the melanocytes - cells that produce pigment in the skin. Malignant melanomas usually begin as a mole that then turns cancerous. This cancer may spread quickly. Malignant melanoma most often appears on fair-skinned men and women, but persons with all skin types may be affected.

Distinguishing benign moles from melanoma:
To prevent melanoma, it is important to examine your skin on a regular basis, and become familiar with moles, and other skin conditions, in order to better identify changes. According to recent research, certain moles are at higher risk for changing into malignant melanoma. Moles that are present at birth, and atypical moles, have a greater chance of becoming malignant. Recognizing changes in moles, by following this ABCD Chart, is crucial in detecting malignant melanoma at its earliest stage. The warning signs are:

Normal Mole	Sign	Characteristic
Photographs Used By Permission: National Cancer Institute
	Asymmetry	when half of the mole does not match the other half
	Border	when the border (edges) of the mole are ragged or irregular
	Color	when the color of the mole varies throughout
	Diameter	if the mole's diameter is larger than a pencil's eraser

Melanomas vary greatly in appearance. Some melanomas may show all of the ABCD characteristics, while other may only show changes in one or two characteristics. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis.

What is a risk factor?

A risk factor is anything that may increase a person's chance of developing a disease. It may be an activity, such as smoking, diet, family history, or many other things. Different diseases, including cancers, have different risk factors.

Although these factors can increase a person's risk, they do not necessarily cause the disease. Some people with one or more risk factors never develop the disease, while others develop disease and have no known risk factors.

But, knowing your risk factors to any disease can help to guide you into the appropriate actions, including changing behaviors and being clinically monitored for the disease.

What are the risk factors for melanoma?

Skin cancer is more common in fair-skinned people - especially those with blond or red hair, who have light-colored eyes. However, no one is safe from skin cancer. Almost half of all Americans who live to age 65 will be diagnosed with skin cancer at some point in their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute. Other risk factors include the following:

family history of melanoma
sun exposure
The amount of time spent unprotected in the sun directly affects your risk of skin cancer.
early childhood sunburns
Research has shown that sunburns early in life increase a person's risk for skin cancer later in life.
many freckles
many ordinary moles (more than 50)
dysplastic nevi

Prevention of skin cancer:
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has declared war on skin cancer by recommending these three preventive steps:

Wear protective clothing, including a hat with a four-inch brim.

Apply sunscreen all over your body and avoid the midday sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Regularly use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, even on cloudy days.

The following six steps have been recommended by the AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

Minimize exposure to the sun at midday - between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Apply sunscreen, with at least a SPF-15 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, to all areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.
Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring.
Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the face. Hats should provide shade for both the face and back of the neck. Wearing sunglasses will reduce the amount of rays reaching the eye by filtering as much as 80 percent of the rays, and protecting the lids of our eyes as well as the lens.
Avoid exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps or tanning parlors.
Protect children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.), and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older.

Remember, sand and pavement reflect UV rays even under the umbrella. Snow is also a particularly good reflector of UV rays. Reflective surfaces can reflect up to 85 percent of the damaging sun rays.

How to perform a skin self-examination:
Finding suspicious moles or skin cancer early is the key to treating skin cancer successfully. A skin self-examination is usually the first step in detecting skin cancer. The following suggested method of self-examination comes from the American Cancer Society:

(You will need a full-length mirror, a hand mirror, and a brightly lit room.)

Examine your body front and back in mirror, then the right and left sides, with your arms raised.
Bend your elbows, look carefully at your forearms, the back of your upper arms, and the palms of your hands.
Look at backs of your legs and feet, spaces between your toes, and the soles of your feet.
Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror.
Check your back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
Become familiar with your skin and the pattern of your moles, freckles, and other marks.
Be alert to changes in the number, size, shape, and color of pigmented areas.
Follow the ABCD Chart when examining moles of other pigmented areas and consult your physician promptly if you notice any changes.

This page was last updated on: January 30, 2008.

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