Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and is common in people who stay outside and are exposed to the sun rays for a long period of time. Fair skinned people are more prone to get skin cancer as their melanin production is lesser. Melanin protects the outer layer of the skin, known as epidermis, from the harmful ultraviolet radiation. It must be kept in mind that even dark skinned people can get skin cancer. Classified below are the different types of skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinoma
Basal carcinoma is a kind of cancer that develops in the basal cell layer of the epidermis that falls under the outer squamous cells of the skin. Basal cells are responsible for the production of the squamous cells that move up and form the outer layer of the skin. Basal cell carcinoma usually appears as a transparent bump on the skin and is caused due to overexposure of the skin to harmful ultraviolet radiations emitted from the sun. The head and the neck, which are the most exposed parts of the body, are the usual site of basal cell carcinoma.

Mutation to the DNA causes basal skin carcinoma. Basal cells divide and then form the outer layer of the epidermis. When the outer skin sheds, these basal cells flatten; they then move up and replace the outer squamous cell that sheds. Mutation of the basal cells causes an abrupt uncontrolled production of the basal cells and causes the cells to grow instead of dying. Eventually this develops into a tumor that is cancerous. The basal cells are very reactive towards the ultraviolet rays present in the sun and artificial tanning lamps.

Melanoma
Melanoma begins in the melanocytes that are responsible for the pigment of the skin. They can begin on a perfectly normal skin or in an existing mole. Melanoma is irregular in shape with different colored spots or a black or grey lump. Usually doctors conduct a biopsy to diagnose melanoma. If melanoma spreads, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is performed to keep the cancer cells under check. However, melanoma can’t be cured completely.

Melanoma can appear anywhere on the skin, but the most common place is the chest area in men and legs in women. Neck and the face are also a common site. In darker individuals, melanoma can appear where the melanin is less like the palm, sole, and even under the nails.

Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is a cancer that begins in the squamous cells, which form the main structural cell of the epidermis that is the outer skin. Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of cancer after basal skin carcinoma. It is common in areas that are exposed to sun’s rays.

A person suffering from squamous cell carcinoma has scaly growths on the skin that do not heal. Squamous cell carcinoma is treated with surgery, chemotherapy for the skin, and even radiation therapy. This type of skin cancer is fatal if it spreads to the other parts of the body.