Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, and it has increased considerably in the past 50 years. Melanoma, the deadliest form, is expected to increase by 6% in 2025, and the incidence of melanoma in people under 30, especially women, increases more quickly than in any other age group.
Excessive exposure to the sun is the main cause of skin cancer, which is why it occurs most often on the face, scalp, ears, neck, top of the chest and hands. “These are the areas that receive the most cumulative sun exposure during the life of a person,” said Dr. David C. Reid, professor and dermatology president at the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
But skin cancer can also develop in areas that are not regularly exposed to the sun, including the palm of the hands, feet, genitals, buttocks, eyelids, in the skin under the nails and inside the mouth or nose.
People are often surprised that certain areas of the body they think are protected from the sun – such as scalp and peaks – can always be exposed important to the ultraviolet sun rays, explains Dr. Kathleen Suozzi, head of surgical dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center. But, she says, “although UV radiation is the main cause of most skin cancers, this is not the only factor.”
What causes skin cancer, apart from the sun?
Genetic factors, immunosuppression (especially for those who have undergone organ transplants) and chronic inflammation can all increase the risk of a person. The same goes for past injuries; Skin cancer can develop in previously injured areas, such as injuries or scars, without sun exposure, says Reid.
Professional exposure to certain types of chemicals, such as those encountered by firefighters and industrial workers-can also increase the risk of developing skin cancer, he adds.
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Viruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV), are a frequent cause of genital skin cancer on the vulva, the vagina, the anus and the penis. “HPV is a super common virus – and it is not only sexually transmitted,” said Dr Anthony Rossi, Mohs dermatologist and surgeon at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Chief of the Joya Health Health Society. It can also spread by non -sexual contact with infected skin.
And internal tanning is a major contributor to skin cancer. Experts believe that the increased popularity of tanning beds and artificial painful lamps is a main reason why melanoma increases in young people. People who have tanned inside at any time in their lives have a 29% higher risk of developing a basal carcinoma of cells and an increased risk of 83% of developing epidermoid carcinoma compared to people who have never done so, according to Skin Cancer Foundation.
The three main types of skin cancer and where they are
The basal carcinoma of cells is the most common form of skin cancer, and is generally linked to chronic sun exposure. This is why it is often found on the face (including the nose, the lips and the cheeks), the ears and the neck, explains Dr. Susan Massick, associate clinical teacher of dermatology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Although it is not “particularly aggressive, it can become more problematic if it is ignored, untreated or authorized to progress”.
Epidermoid carcinoma is the second common type, and it is generally on the face, ears, neck, lips and back of the hands, although it can appear anywhere on the body. “Epidermoid carcinoma promotes areas exposed to the sun, but can also occur in scars, chronic ulcers or viruses in areas protected by the sun,” explains Reid. Although it is very treatable when identified at an early stage, epidermoid carcinoma can spread to the surrounding tissues if it is not addressed.
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Melanoma, which is the third type of most common skin cancer, tends to occur also in areas exposed to the sun, especially on the chest, torso and back in men and legs in women, notes Rossi. But it can also develop in areas not exposed to the sun such as mucous membranes in the nose and mouth and eye, says Massick. It is the deadliest form of skin cancer because it can spread to other areas of the body if it is not detected and treated early.
How to prevent skin cancer
Given the links between skin cancer and sun exposure, it is important to use a wide spectrum sunscreen on your skin with a SPF of 30 or more daily throughout the year. When you spend time outside, reappear a sunscreen every two hours and make sure you apply enough: the quantity should fill a shot glass for the whole body, plus two to three fingers for the face and neck, says Rossi.
When you spend long periods outside, the Skin Cancer Foundation also recommends wearing UPF protective clothing, including large -edge hats and sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVA and UVB light.
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Use these strategies when you also drive, because UVA penetrates through the window glass, said Rossi. You may even want to wear driving gloves to protect the skin on your hands.
“It is also useful to check the daily UV index, which is included in weather applications for smartphone,” explains Reid. “A score of 3 or more means that it is time to take precautions” as the shadow search during noon.
Always avoid tanning beds, Suozzi advises and avoid exposure to UV in frost manicures.
How to spot potential signs of skin cancer
The key is to make monthly skin self-exams, to make a concerted effort to discover the skin all over the body, including on the back, the scalp and the genitals. (You may want to get a partner’s help for these difficult to see areas – or use mirrors strategically.)
Keep in mind: “If you have light hair, red hair or lightening hair, it does not offer so much photoprotection,” explains Rossi. This is why it is important to continually separate the hair during the skin checks so that you can see as much of your scalp as possible.
And don’t forget to examine your nails and the bottom of your feet, says Reid. A subtype of skin cancer called acral lentinous melanoma tends to appear on the palm of the hands, the soles of the feet or under the nails, “and it is more frequent in individuals with darker skin tones”.
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Many people have heard of ABCDE to identify the melanoma suspected in mole or pigmented spots: A is for asymmetry (which means that half is different from the other), B is for the border (the spot has an irregular or poorly defined border), it is for color (which means that the spot has variations in colors, like the size of the white, pencil), Eraser can report melanoma) and E is to evolve, which means that the spot changes in size, color or in shape.
Warning signs are different for other forms of skin cancer. The basal carcinoma of the cells can look like a pearly bump, a wound that does not heal or a pink and scaly patch, known as Massick. “Epidermoid carcinoma can also appear as a pink and scaly patch, growth in the shape of a wart or a rough and thickened skin area that bleeds, crusts or crusts” – and does not heal.
If you are developing one of these skin signs and they persist for a few months, consult a dermatologist. “These are not only moles – any persistent skin change should arouse suspicion,” said Suozzi.
In general, it is wise to see a dermatologist once a year for skin control of the body, says Rossi. Your doctor can then make a biopsy of something unusual and send it to a laboratory to diagnose or exclude cancer. The key is to grab the abnormal points early – where they occur.
