Skin

Whether you are directly affected by skin cancer, or you just want to find out more, we have put together a range of resources to support you.

This page includes important information about prevention, early detection, and the steps people can take to reduce their risk of being diagnosed with the disease.

Skin Cancer Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the different types of skin cancer?

There are three main types of skin cancer:

basal cell carcinoma (BCCs)
squamous cell carcinoma (SCCs)
melanoma.

BCCs and SCCs are different from melanoma. They are called non-melanoma skin cancers and are more common than melanoma.

What is the main cause of skin cancer and am I at risk?

Most skin cancers are caused by skin damage that happens from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or sunbeds.

All types of skin are at risk of sun damage and skin cancer.

The risk is highest if you have skin that tends to burn easily, or freckle in the sun.

If you have black or brown skin, you can get skin cancer but it is less likely. You still need to protect your skin from the sun and check for anything unusual.

It is important for everyone to follow skin protection advice and to check their skin regularly. If you are worried, Macmillan have more information about causes and risk factors of non-melanoma skin cancer and causes and risk factors of melanoma.

What are the signs of melanoma?

Diagnosing skin cancer early saves lives, so it’s really important to know what to look for. Melanoma usually (but not always) causes changes to moles.

You should contact your GP if you have a mole that:

gets bigger
changes shape
has a blurred, rough or jagged outline
gets darker or red
has more than one colour in it
gets itchy or painful
gets crusty or bleeds.

The ABCDE rule is a helpful acronym for identifying potential skin cancers. It stands for:

Asymmetry - the two halves of the mole may differ in their shape and not match
Border - the outside edges of the mole or area may be blurred, and sometimes show notches or look 'ragged'
Colour - this may be uneven and patchy, new colours may be appearing or different shades of black, brown, pink and even purple may be seen
Diameter - melanomas will progessively change. If you see any mole, or 'mole-like' mark, getting bigger over a period of weeks to months, contact your GP
Evolving - the mole is changing in size, shape, or colour.

How can I protect myself?

Wear sunscreen: make it a habit to apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, even on cloudy days and during the winter months
Educate yourself and others: learn the ABCDEs of melanoma (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving) and share this knowledge with friends and family
Avoid tanning beds
Wear protective clothing: protect your skin with hats, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors
Take photos of anything that doesn't look right: if you can it's a good idea to put a ruler or tape measure next to the abnormal area when you take the photo. This gives you a more accurate idea about its size and can help you tell if it's changing. You can then show these pictures to your doctor.

I had cancer in the past - am I more at risk of cancer?

You’re more likely to get skin cancer if you had radiotherapy when you were younger. Cancers can also develop in the skin that was treated with radiation.

How is skin cancer diagnosed?

There are two main tests used to find skin cancer.

A specialist might oil the area you’re worried about and then look at it using a dermatoscope – an instrument that magnifies the area.

You might need to have a biopsy, which is when a sample of the skin is taken, usually under local anaesthetic (where a small part of your body is numbed), and then looked at under a microscope for signs of cancer.

You can find out more in this resource by Teenage Cancer Trust: Getting Diagnosed.

How do you treat melanoma skin cancer?

The treatment for melanoma depends on how advanced it is.

Catching it early means the mole is usually just removed, along with a surrounding area.

More advanced melanoma might be treated using chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapies (where drugs are used to shrink melanoma) or surgery – sometimes a combination of them all.