types

The most common types of skin cancers are:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Squamous Cell Carcinoma

• Melanoma

Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are the most common. They present on sun exposed areas of the skin, especially the face. They rarely metastasize, and rarely causes death. They are easily treated with surgery or radiation. Squamous cell carcinomas(SCC) are common, but much less common than basal cell cancers. They metastasize more frequently than BCC’s. Even then, the metastasis rate is quite low, with the exception of SCC’s of the lip, ear, and in immunosuppressed patients. Melanomas are the least frequent of the 3 common skin cancers. They frequently metastasize, and are deadly once spread.

Less common skin cancers include: Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans,Merkel cell carcinoma,Kaposi’s sarcoma, keratoacanthoma, spindle cell tumors, sebaceous carcinomas, microcystic adnexal carcinoma, merkel cell carcinoma, Pagets’s disease of the breast, atypical fibroxanthoma, leimyosarcoma, and angiosarcoma

The BCC and the SCC often carry a UV-signature mutation indicating that these cancers are caused by UV-B radiation via the direct DNA damage. However the malignant melanoma is predominantly caused by UV-A radiation via the indirect DNA damage. The indirect DNA damage is caused by free radicals and reactive oxygen species. Research indicates that the absorption of three sunscreen ingredients into the skin, combined with a 60-minute exposure to UV, leads to an increase of free radicals in the skin.