Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The two most common types are basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer. They usually form on the head, face, neck, hands and arms. Another type of skin cancer, melanoma, is more dangerous but less common.
Anyone can get skin cancer, but it is more common in people who
Spend a lot of time in the sun or have been sunburned
Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes
Have a family member with skin cancer
Are over age 50
You should have your doctor check any suspicious skin markings and any changes in the way your skin looks. Treatment is more likely to work well when cancer is found early. If not treated, some types of skin cancer cells can spread to other tissues and organs.
National Cancer Institute
Start Here
Skin Cancer(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Skin Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle(National Cancer Institute)
What You Need to Know about Skin Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Basics
Learn More
Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews
Latest News
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Treatment
Prevention/Screening
Disease Management
Specific Conditions
Related Issues
Pictures & Photographs
Health Check Tools
Tutorials
Videos
Research
Reference Shelf
For You
Clinical Trials
Genetics
Research
Journal Articles
Dictionaries/Glossaries
Directories
Organizations
Statistics
Seniors
Overviews
Skin Cancer(American Academy of Dermatology)
What Is Squamous and Basal Cell Skin Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
Also available in Spanish
Latest News
Acne Cream Not Linked to Raised Death Risk(01/23/2009, HealthDay)
Laws Governing Indoor Tanning by Teens Don't Work(12/08/2008, HealthDay)
Study Singles Out Beachgoers' Skin Cancer Risk(11/17/2008, HealthDay)
Diagnosis/Symptoms
Biopsy: What to Expect(American Academy of Dermatology)
How Is Squamous and Basal Cell Skin Cancer Diagnosed?(American Cancer Society)
How Is Squamous and Basal Cell Skin Cancer Staged?(American Cancer Society)
Skin Biopsy(Logical Images)
Skin Examinations(American Academy of Dermatology)
What Skin Cancer Looks Like(American Academy of Dermatology)
Treatment
Chemotherapy: What Every Patient Should Know(American Academy of Dermatology)
Cryosurgery in Cancer Treatment: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute)
Electrodesiccation(Logical Images)
How Is Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Treated?(American Cancer Society)
Also available in Spanish
Immunotherapy: What It Is and How It Can Help Fight Cancer(American Academy of Dermatology)
Merkel Cell Carcinoma (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in Spanish
Mohs Micrographic Surgery(Logical Images)
Skin Cancer (PDQ): Treatment(National Cancer Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Prevention/Screening
Can Squamous and Basal Skin Cancer Be Prevented?(American Cancer Society)
How to Check for Actinic Keratoses (AKs) during Skin Self-Exam(American Academy of Dermatology)
Skin Cancer (PDQ): Prevention(National Cancer Institute)
Skin Cancer (PDQ): Screening(National Cancer Institute)
Skin Cancer: A Fact of Life in Skin of Color(American Academy of Dermatology)
What to Expect at a Skin Cancer Screening(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Disease Management
What Will Happen After Treatment for Squamous and Basal Cell Skin Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Specific Conditions
Basal Cell Carcinoma(College of American Pathologists) - Links to PDF
Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Questions and Answers(National Cancer Institute)
Periocular Skin Cancer -- Skin Tumors Around the Eye(American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery) - Links to PDF Return to top
Related Issues
Actinic Cheilitis(Logical Images)
Actinic Keratosis(Logical Images)
Athletes Face Tough Opponent: Skin Cancer(American Academy of Dermatology)
Organ Transplant Increases Risk of Skin Cancer(American Academy of Dermatology)
Weakened Immune System Can Lead to Skin Cancer(Skin Cancer Foundation)
What Are the Risk Factors for Squamous and Basal Cell Skin Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Squamous and Basal Cell Skin Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
When to See a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Pictures & Photographs
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)(Logical Images)
Basal Cell Carcinoma: What It Looks Like(American Academy of Dermatology)
Skin Types and At-Risk Groups(Skin Cancer Foundation)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)(Logical Images)
Squamous Cell Carcinoma: What It Looks Like(American Academy of Dermatology)
What Do Actinic Keratoses Look Like?(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Health Check Tools
Skin Cancer Risk: Understanding the Puzzle(National Cancer Institute) Return to top
Tutorials
Skin Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
Skin Cancer(Patient Education Institute)
Also available in SpanishReturn to top
Videos
If I Had - A Changing Mole(Insidermedicine) Return to top
Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Basal Cell(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Carcinoma, Merkel Cell(National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Skin Neoplasms(National Institutes of Health) Return to top
Genetics
Can We Inherit Skin Cancers Other Than Melanoma?(American Academy of Dermatology)
Genetics Home Reference: Gorlin syndrome(National Library of Medicine)
Learning about Skin Cancer(National Human Genome Research Institute)
Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome(American Society of Clinical Oncology) Return to top
Research
Balance Is the Key to Production of Healthy Skin(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
MicroRNA Molecule Prevents Skin Cell Proliferation(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
More Young Patients Hearing “You Have Skin Cancer”(American Academy of Dermatology)
Non-melanoma Skin Cancer Linked to Risk of Other Cancers(American Cancer Society)
Screening for Skin Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF
What's New in Research and Treatment of Squamous and Basal Cell Skin Cancer?(American Cancer Society) Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Article: Association between statin use and risk for keratinocyte carcinoma in...
Article: The sunshine D-lemma. Sunlight causes skin cancer, but it also...
Article: Dermoscopic-histopathologic correlation of cutaneous lymphangioma circumscriptum.
Skin Cancer -- see more articles Return to top
Dictionaries/Glossaries
Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute) Return to top
Directories
Find a Dermasurgeon(American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology)
Find an Oncologist(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
Skin Cancer Screening Program(American Academy of Dermatology) Return to top
Organizations
American Academy of Dermatology
American Cancer Society
National Cancer Institute
Skin Cancer Foundation Return to top
Statistics
2008 Skin Cancer Fact Sheet(American Academy of Dermatology)
Cancer of the Skin (Excluding Basal and Squamous)(National Cancer Institute)
Other Non-Epithelial Skin Cancer(National Cancer Institute) Return to top
Seniors
Skin Cancer(National Cancer Institute) Return to top