Types of Skin Cancer

What are the different types of skin cancer and what are the symptoms? Most people worry when they see a sudden appearance of moles or freckles. It's important to understand and investigate and sudden skin changes and see a dermatologist for regular checkups.

There are several different kinds of skin cancer each with their own symptoms and appearance -- depending on the type of cell they came. Different types of skin cancer also tend to develop in specific parts of the body. Skin cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer and yet over 1000,000 people are diagnosed with skin cancer yearly.

Signs of Skin Cancer - Skin Cancer Warning Signs

These type of skin cancer growths appear on places of the body that are most exposed to the sun – like ears, face, lips and nose. Symptoms of skin cancer for squamous cell carcinoma include an open sore spot that won’t seem to heal. Sometimes that spot is flat or inflamed and sometimes it can appear as a crust bumps that gets larger with time. This type of skin cancer growth often looks pink or slightly reddish in color.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Skin cancer statistics indicated that basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common of the 3 types of skin cancer and occurs in over 75% of all cancers diagnosed. Basal skin cancer is usually found on the neck, hands, and face and is easily treated. The skin cancer warning signs include a sore or a pimple that bleeds or oozes and won’t heal. It can appear as a red area that seems irritated with a yellow or whitish fluid that leaks. It can also have a light scab around or over it.

Melanoma skin cancer is the most deadly type of skin cancer, but is treatable if detected early enough. This skin cancer is usually found on the trunk or the body or the legs. The skin cancer warning signs for malignant melanoma include freckles or moles that change in color and shape. Often times they will have an irregular outline and be more than one color—like black and brown. While the borders of a regular freckle or a mole are well defined, in the case of melanoma, they will be irregular; less defined and may itch or bleed.

Another skin cancer warning sign to look for is the sudden appearance of moles or freckles with the above description. Early signs of skin cancer malignant melanoma are:

• uneven border and multi-colored as described above
• asymmetry of a mole where one side has a different shape than the other side
• the borders of the mole appear ragged instead of smooth
• the size of diameter of the mole is larger than ¼ inch (5-6 mm)

How To Prevent Skin Cancer

So how can you prevent skin cancer? Your best defense is to use a Chemical Free sunscreen every day all year round – winter or summer. My favorite sun screen is Ultimate UV Defense SPF 30 because it's chemical free, not greasy, shiny, or sticky. It's great for all types of skin and ages - even for those with mature or oily skin.

Current research has shown that chemical sunscreens may be doing more harm than good. A study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that out of 785 sun screens analyzed -- a staggering 84% contained ingredients with safety concerns or did not provide adequate protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

They have identified the following sun screen chemicals as being harmful:

• benzophenone-3
• 4-MBC (4-methyl-benzylidene camphor)
• PABA
• octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC)
• homosalate

Click here Sun Safety to read more.....