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Skin Cancers

While you may enjoy your time in the sun, bear in mind that skin cancer is caused by ultraviolet light that comes from the sun’s rays. Over time, sunlight exposure can cause damage to the DNA of the skin.

Skin Cancer

“While anybody can develop skin cancer, people with lightly colored eyes, hair, and skin and who have a family history of skin cancer are at increased risk,” says David J. Leffell, MD, chief of Dermatologic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology at Yale Medicine. Repeated exposure to the sun is another risk, which can affect people who work outdoors. Having experienced blistering sunburns in childhood is another risk for developing skin cancer, he says, which can take years to surface.

At Medicine, experts diagnose and treat all forms of skin cancer—both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer—using the most advanced techniques. Because our doctors are also scientists, they perform research to advance the understanding of skin cancers and their treatment.

What are the major kinds of skin cancer?

There two main types of skin cancer: melanoma and non-melanoma (which includes basal and squamous cell) skin cancers. Here in the United States, non-melanoma skin cancers are more common than melanoma. However, skin cancer rates in general are on the rise.

What is a melanoma?

Melanomas are the rarest of the three main types of skin cancer, but they are also the deadliest. Although melanoma usually results from sun exposure, it can occur in areas of the skin that have never seen sunlight. Besides sun damage, risk factors for melanoma include family history of skin cancer, the number of moles (typical and atypical) a person may have on their skin and other unknown causes.

One type of melanoma is melanoma in-situ (Stage 0 melanoma). This is a type of melanoma that affects the top layer of skin only—the epidermis—and has not spread into the deeper layers of skin.

What are non-melanoma skin cancers?

There are two main types of non-melanoma skin cancer:

  • Basal cell cancer—Also known as basal cell carcinoma, it begins in the basal cells of the skin. It is the most common type of non-melanoma skin cancer. It often appears as a transparent, clear bump on the skin that grows slowly and may bleed. 
  • Squamous cell cancer—Also called squamous cell carcinoma, it begins in the squamous cells of the skin. It presents as thick, crusty growths that are raised and firm.

Are there other kinds of skin cancer?

There are other, rarer forms of skin cancers as well:

  • Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) . CTCL is not linked to sun exposure but is a rare type of lymphoma that affects the skin, blood, lymph nodes, and internal organs. It appears as small patches of red, dry skin that spread slowly over time. The cancer can spread to the bloodstream, lymph nodes, and internal organs. 

What are the risks for skin cancer?

The main risks include the following:

  • Having light skin, eyes, and hair
  • Repeated sun exposure
  • Family history of skin cancer
  • Organ transplantation. Special medications used to prevent organ-transplant rejection reduce your immune system's ability repair DNA damage or eliminate cells that could develop into skin cancer.