Types of Skin Cancer

Types of skin cancer

There are two main types of skin cancer, Non-Melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) and Melanoma skin cancer, which is the most serious type of skin cancer.

Non-Melanoma skin cancers (NMSC)
There are two main types of Non-Melanoma skin cancers - these are:
Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Both these skin cancers are named after the types of skin cells from which the cancer develops.
It is also possible for a NMSC to be mixture of both these types.

Melanoma skin cancer
Melanoma is the least common but most dangerous type of skin cancer.
There are 4 main types of melanoma:
Lentigo maligna [LM], Superficial spreading [SSMM],
Nodular Melanoma (NM), and Acral lentiginous [ALMM]

Pre-cancerous skin lesions
It is also important to look out for pre-cancerous skin lesions such as:
Actinic Keratosis and Intra-Epidermal Carcinoma (Bowen's Disease).
Bowen's Disease is an early form of Non Melanoma Skin Cancer which can, if left untreated
develop into Sqamous Cell Carcinoma.

Find in-depth information on all of these skin conditions and more
by clicking on the appropriate links below.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. It grows slowly over months and years and may damage nearby tissues and organs if left untreated.

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Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is less common but grows faster. It may spread to other parts of the body and if left untreated can be deadly.

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Melanoma

Melanoma is the least common but most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is often fast growing and can spread to other parts of the body to form a new cancer.

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Actinic Keratosis

Actinic Keratosis (AK) is also known as Solar Keratosis caused by UV radiation, is the most common precancer which can advance to Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

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Intra-Epidermal Carcinoma (Bowen's Disease)

Bowen's Disease is a precancerous skin lesion that has not yet penetrated the basement membrane, but can if left untreated, lead to Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

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Merkel cell carcinoma & rarer skin cancers

Find out about some rarer forms of skin cancer such as Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma

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