Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. It occurs in more than a million people each year, including many older people. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Of the three, melanoma is the most serious. Skin cancer occurs when abnormal cells form and multiply in an uncontrolled way in the epidermis, or abnormal cells from the epidermis invade the dermis of the skin. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are skin cancers that are named for the epidermal cells from which they develop.

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer among light skinned individuals. It is the commonest cancer in the United States and in Australia. Each year, about one million people are diagnosed with this cancer. In 85 percent of these cases, the skin damage leading to the cancer occurs before an individual is 18.

Skin Cancer Classification

Skin Cancer Causes

Skin Cancer Diagnosis

Skin Cancer Prevention

Skin Cancer Management

Skin Cancer Pathology

Skin Cancer Symptoms

Hair Follicle Tumors

Rare Skin Cancers

Does Aspirin Increase Your Risk of Skin Cancer?

Understanding the Diversity of Skin Cancers

Latest Skin Cancer News and Research

Researchers discover key protein interaction driving skin cancer growth

LMU researchers have discovered how the interplay between a key protein and an endolysosomal ion channel promotes tumor development in skin cancer.

22 Nov 2024

Study uncovers diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts in skin cancer

A study at MedUni Vienna's Department of Dermatology provides insights into the diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts in white and black skin cancer and describes their different immunomodulatory roles in the tumor environment.

19 Nov 2024

Teledermoscopy offers reliable skin cancer diagnosis

Collecting images of suspicious-looking skin growths and sending them off-site for specialists to analyze is as accurate in identifying skin cancers as having a dermatologist examine them in person, a new study shows.

14 Nov 2024

Study links tanning bed use to rising melanoma rates in New England

Melanoma accounts for only 1% of skin cancers in the United States but results in the largest number of skin cancer deaths. Investigators evaluated the potential link between the availability and use of tanning beds and the rising rates of melanoma in New England.

7 Nov 2024

Tight petticoat waist cord linked to skin cancer

A tightly tied waist cord of the underskirt (petticoat) traditionally worn under a saree, particularly in rural parts of India, may lead to what has been dubbed 'petticoat cancer,' warn doctors in the journal BMJ Case Reports after treating two women with this type of malignancy.

5 Nov 2024

Researchers awarded Synergy Grant to target tumor vessels and boost immunotherapy

Targeting and customizing blood vessels in tumors to increase T cell infiltration and maintain their function may represent the next breakthrough in cancer therapy.

5 Nov 2024

Study identifies six cancer susceptibility genes

Identification of six cancer susceptibility genes offers new insights into genetic risk factors, potentially enhancing early detection and treatment strategies.

29 Oct 2024

Genomic technology used to improve understanding of Marjolin's ulcer

Researchers utilized specialized genomic technology at the University of Calgary to enhance our understanding of Marjolin's ulcer (MU), a rare, highly aggressive skin cancer that affects chronic wounds that can often arise from established scars like those caused by severe burns.

28 Oct 2024

New insights into melanoma metastasis reveal potential drug target

Investigators from Weill Cornell Medicine have discovered a defense mechanism that protects skin cancer cells from oxidative stress and helps them spread.

22 Oct 2024

Breast cancer patients struggle with several unmet emotional and financial concerns

Although breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in women, finding support during treatment and through survivorship can be incredibly challenging.

18 Oct 2024

Bias awareness helps bridge the gap between human and AI healthcare

While people are growing more accustomed to AI-driven personal assistants, customer service chatbots and even financial advisors, when it comes to healthcare, most still want it with a human touch.

15 Oct 2024

Distinct immune profiles linked to adverse reactions from immunotherapy

Distinct immune "signatures" in patients who develop adverse events while taking immunotherapy for cancer may help oncologists identify patients at risk and treat them early to prevent serious side effects, suggests a study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.

15 Oct 2024

Breast cancer mortality plummets by 44%, but alarming racial gaps persist

The latest American Cancer Society report reveals a 44% decline in breast cancer mortality since 1989, but racial disparities remain, with underserved populations seeing little progress. Increased screening and access to treatment are critical for future reductions.

9 Oct 2024

Hormone hepcidin identified as potential trigger for psoriasis

Scientists may have uncovered the root cause of psoriasis, a chronic and sometimes debilitating skin disease that affects 2-3% of the global population. The condition is characterized by red, scaly patches that impact the quality of a patient's life and can sometimes be life-threatening.

26 Sep 2024