Skin cancer develops primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. But it can also form on areas that rarely see the light of day - the palms, beneath the fingernails, the spaces between the toes or under the toenails, and the genital area.
A cancerous skin lesion can appear suddenly or develop slowly. Its appearance depends on the type of cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma
This is the most common skin cancer. It's also the most easily treated and the least likely to spread. Basal cell carcinoma usually appears as one of the following:
- A pearly or waxy bump on your face, ears or neck
- A flat, flesh-coloured or brown scar-like lesion on your chest or back
Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is easily treated if detected early, but it's slightly more likely to spread than is basal cell carcinoma. Most often, squamous cell carcinoma appears as one of the following:
- A firm, red nodule on your face, lips, ears, neck, hands or arms
- A flat lesion with a scaly, crusted surface on your face, ears, neck, hands or arms
Melanoma
This is the most serious form of skin cancer and the one responsible for most skin cancer deaths. Melanoma can develop anywhere on your body, in otherwise normal skin or in an existing mole that turns malignant. Melanoma most often appears on the trunk, head or neck of affected men. In women, this type of cancer most often develops on the arms or legs.
Warning signs of melanoma include:
- A large brownish spot with darker speckles located anywhere on your body
- A simple mole located anywhere on your body that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds
- A small growth with an irregular border and red, white, blue or blue-black spots on your trunk or limbs
- Shiny, firm, dome-shaped bumps located anywhere on your body
- Dark patches on your palms, soles, fingertips and toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina and anus
Precancerous skin lesions
Precancerous skin lesions, such as an actinic keratosis, can also develop into squamous cell skin cancer. Actinic keratoses appear as rough, scaly, reddish or dark-pink patches. They're most commonly found on the face, ears, lower arms and hands of people whose skin has been damaged by the sun.
Not all skin changes are cancerous. The only way to know for sure is to have your skin examined by your doctor or dermatologist.