- Resources
AAD Skin Cancer Resources
Skin cancer
What is skin cancer?
Skin Cancer: Types and Treatment
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer. It tends to grow slowly and rarely spreads. However, it can grow deep, so you want to treat this skin cancer early. A dermatologist can tell you if you have basal cell carcinoma and if you do, what treatment is recommended. When found early and properly treated, this cancer is highly treatable.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is a common type of skin cancer that often looks like a scaly patch, dome-shaped growth, or sore. It tends to grow slowly, but sometimes growth is quick. A board-certified dermatologist can tell you if you have this skin cancer. When found early, squamous cell carcinoma is highly treatable.
Melanoma
A type of skin cancer, melanoma is often called the “most serious skin cancer” because it can spread from the skin to other parts of the body. Melanoma is not contagious and cannot be spread from one person to another.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare skin cancer. Cancer records show that doctors diagnosed about 2,000 MCCs in the United States during 2018.1 While MCC is rare, the cancer records also indicate that more people are developing this skin cancer than ever before. Between 2000-2013, the number of MCCs that doctors diagnosed increased by 95%.2 This increase is expected to continue.
Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans (DFSP)
Dermatofibrosarcoma (dur-mah-toe-fy-bro-sar-co-ma) protuberans (pro-to-bur-anz) (DFSP) is a rare skin cancer. It begins in the middle layer of skin, the dermis. DFSP tends to grow slowly. It seldom spreads to other parts of the body. Because DFSP rarely spreads, this cancer has a high survival rate. Treatment is important, though. Without treatment, DFSP can grow deep into the fat, muscle, and even bone. If this happens, treatment can be difficult.
Sebaceous Cell Carcinoma
Sebaceous carcinoma is a rare skin cancer that most commonly develops on the eyelid. It may appear as a slow-growing, painless yellowish lump, thickening of the eyelid, a pimple-like growth, persistent crusting, bleeding, or a sore that does not heal or repeatedly returns.