There are several types of skin cancer. The majority of skin cancers are locally damaging cancerous (malignant) skin growths. They are made up of cells from the epidermis, the skin's superficial layer. Most of these skin cancers migrate to other areas of the body (metastasize) and become life-threatening.

Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are the three most common forms of skin cancers around the globe. Other uncommon types of skin cancer include lymphomas, Merkel cell tumors, and cancers of other skin tissue, such as sarcomas and hair and sweat gland tumors. 

You may decrease your risk of skin cancer by avoiding exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiations present in the sunlight. Examining your skin for abnormal changes may contribute in the detection of skin cancer in its early stages. Early diagnosis of skin cancer increases your chances of effective treatment.

What are the Types of Skin Cancers?

 Skin cancer may be classified into three types:

(1) Basal cell carcinoma (the most common)

(2) Squamous cell carcinoma (the second most common), which start from skin cells

(3) Melanoma, which also develops from pigment-producing skin cells (melanocytes) but is less common and more deadly than the first two.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancers According to the Type:

Signs and Symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma:

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are uncontrolled growths that develop from the skin's basal cells in the epidermis. These malignancies most often appear on sun-exposed skin, particularly the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders, and back.

Basal cell carcinoma may manifest itself as:

• A pearly or waxy bump
• A scar-like lesion that is flat and flesh-colored or brown.
• A bleeding or scabbing sore that heals and reappears

Signs and Symptoms of Squamous Cell Carcinoma:

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is an uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells originating from the squamous cells in the skin's outer layer (epidermis). SCCs are widespread in sun-exposed parts such as the ears, face, scalp, neck, and hands, where the skin typically shows indications of UV damage, such as wrinkles and age spots.

Squamous cell carcinoma may manifest as:

• A hard, red nodule
• A lesion having crusty surface

Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma:

Melanoma may form anywhere on your body, in otherwise normal skin or in an existing mole that turns malignant. Melanoma more often develops on the face or trunk of males. This kind of cancer most often occurs on the lower legs in women. Melanoma may develop on skin that hasn't been exposed to the sun in both men and women.

Melanoma may affect individuals of all skin tones. Melanoma tends to appear on the palms or soles, or beneath the fingernails or toenails, among individuals with darker skin tones.

Melanoma warning signals include:

• A big brownish spot with darker speckles
• A mole that changes color, size, or texture, or that bleeds
• A tiny lesion with an uneven border with parts that look red, pink, white, blue, or blue-black.
• An unpleasant lesion that itches or burns
• Dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingers, or toes, or on the mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina, or anus

Signs and Symptoms of Merkel cell carcinoma:

These cancers often develop as hard, painless lesions or nodules on a sun-exposed region (about half of the time on the head and neck, and frequently on the eyelids). Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an uncommon and severe skin cancer.

What are the Causes of Skin Cancers?

Basal Cell Carcinoma: The majority of BCCs are produced by persistent and long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Most SCCs are caused by persistent, long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun and tanning salons.

Melanoma: Melanoma is often caused by the kind of strong, intermittent sun exposure that causes sunburn. The usage of tanning beds raises the risk of melanoma.

MCCs is common in sun-exposed areas in fair-skinned people over the age of 50. These are caused by a virus called the Merkel cell polyomavirus.

UV light: The ultraviolet (UV) radiation present in daylight and tanning bed lights causes most of the DNA damage in skin cells. Sun exposure, however, does not explain skin malignancies that form on skin that is not normally exposed to sunlight. This suggests that other variables, such as being exposed to harmful chemicals or having a disease that impairs your immune system, may add to your risk of skin cancer.

What are the Risk Factors?

The following are the most frequent risk factors for skin cancer:

• Exposure to ultraviolet radiations: People with fair complexion, hazel or blue eyes, and blond or red hair are more susceptible. The issue is exacerbated in regions of high elevation or near the equator, where sunshine exposure is greater.
• A persistently weakened immune system (immunosuppression) caused by underlying illnesses such as HIV/AIDS infection or cancer, or by medicines such as prednisone or chemotherapy.
• Exposure to ionizing radiation (X-rays) or substances known to predispose to cancer, such as arsenic
• Certain forms of sexually transmitted wart virus infections
• People with a history of one skin cancer have a 20% risk of getting a second skin cancer in the following two years.
• Skin malignancies are more common among the elderly.

When you should see a doctor if you suspect a Skin Cancer:

If you detect any changes in your skin that concern you, make an appointment with your doctor. Skin cancer is not the only cause of skin changes. Your doctor will look into your skin changes to find out what's causing them.

Diagnoses?

A dermatologist's skin examination is the only method to obtain a definite diagnosis of skin cancer. In many instances, the appearance alone is sufficient to establish the diagnosis.

A skin biopsy is frequently conducted to confirm a skin cancer suspicion. This is done by numbing the area beneath the tumor using a local anesthetic like lidocaine. A pathologist analyzes the tissue under a microscope and makes a diagnosis based on the characteristics of the tumor after removing a small portion of the tumor.

What are the Treatment Options for Skin Cancers?

Your treatment options for skin cancer and precancerous skin lesions known as actinic keratoses will vary depending on their size, kind, depth, and location. Small skin cancers that are limited to the skin's surface may not require treatment beyond a skin biopsy that removes the whole tumor.

Medication for skin cancer: Some creams, gels, and solutions can be used to treat superficial basal cell carcinomas such as:

 Imiquimod (Aldara), which works by stimulating the body's immune system, causing it to produce interferon, which targets cancer, and

Fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapy drug. Some people may experience redness, inflammation, and discomfort.

If additional treatment is required, the following alternatives may be considered:

Freezing: Actinic keratoses and some early skin malignancies may be destroyed by freezing them with liquid nitrogen, according to your doctor (cryosurgery). When the frozen tissue thaws, it sloughs off.

Excisional surgery: is a type of surgical procedure that involves the removal of tissue This sort of therapy might be used for any type of skin cancer. Your doctor excises the malignant tissue as well as a border of healthy skin around it. In certain situations, a broad excision – removing additional normal skin around the tumor — may be indicated.

Mohs surgery: is a type of cosmetic surgery. This treatment is used to treat bigger, recurrent, or difficult-to-treat skin malignancies, which can include both basal and squamous cell carcinomas. It's frequently utilized in locations where it's important to save as much skin as possible, such as on the nose.

The doctor removes the skin growth layer by layer, inspecting each layer under a microscope until no cancer cells are remaining. This treatment removes malignant cells without removing too much good skin from the surrounding area.

Curettage, electrodesiccation, and cryotherapy are all options. Then the doctor scrapes away layers of cancer cells with a circular-bladed instrument, known as Curet. Electric needle is used to kill remaining cancer cells. In a variant of this method, liquid nitrogen can be used to freeze the treated area's base and edges.

These basic, fast methods might be utilized to treat basal cell or thin squamous cell tumors.

Radiation treatment: A high dosage of radiation is delivered to the tumor and a small surrounding skin region over the course of ten to fifteen therapy sessions. There is no cutting in this procedure The treated region cannot be checked to see if the entire tumor has been removed, and radiation scars deteriorate with time.

Chemotherapy: Creams or lotions containing anti-cancer drugs can be administered directly to the skin for malignancies restricted to the top layer of skin. Skin malignancies that have spread to other regions of the body can be treated with systemic chemotherapy.

Photodynamic treatment: is a type of light therapy. This treatment uses a mix of laser light and medicines that make cancer cells sensitive to light to kill skin cancer cells.

Biological treatment: The immune system of your body is used in biological treatment to destroy cancer cells.

Prevention Home Remedies?

The majority of skin cancers are avoidable. Follow these skin cancer prevention strategies to be safe:

• For many people in North America, the sun's rays are at their most powerful between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Make plans to do outside activities at other times of the day, even if the weather is chilly or dreary outdoors.
• You are exposed to UV radiation throughout the year, and clouds provide little protection from the potentially harmful rays. • When you avoid being exposed to the sun during its peak hours, you can prevent becoming sunburned or getting a suntan, which can both lead to skin damage and raise your chances of developing skin cancer. Skin cancer can also be caused by prolonged exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Tanning should be avoided at all costs, and the use of UV tanning beds should also be avoided.
• Put on your personal protective equipment. It is possible that sunscreens will not give complete protection against UV rays. If you want to protect your skin from the sun, you should dress in dark, tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs.
• You should also wear a broad-brimmed hat that gives greater protection than a baseball cap or sun visor. An increasing number of companies are now offering photographic apparel. Make an appointment with your dermatologist as soon as possible.
• Please don't forget to bring your sunglasses with you.
• Scan the labels of sunscreens to be sure they are efficient at preventing both UVA and UVB rays. Use a water-resistant, broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 while indulging in outdoor activities for an extended amount of time.
• Thirty minutes before you plan to go outside, apply one ounce (two teaspoons) of sunscreen to your whole body. It is recommended that you reuse it after swimming or sweating heavily. Sunscreen may be found in our Recommended Products section.
• Keep newborns out of the sun as much as possible. If your baby is older than six months, you should apply sunscreen on him or her.
• Check your skin on a regular basis and notify your doctor of any changes. You should properly examine your skin on a regular basis for new skin growths. And also check for any changes in existing moles, freckles, lumps, or birthmarks.
• Examine your face, neck, ears, and scalp using mirrors. Examine your chest and trunk, as well as the tops and bottoms of your arms and hands. Examine the front and back of your legs, as well as the soles and areas between your toes. Examine your vaginal region and the space between your buttocks as well.
• Sun-sensitizing medicines should be avoided. Some over-the-counter and prescription medications, including antibiotics, might make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.