Skin cancer: Warning signs, symptoms and types

Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells, often developed in the skin due to extreme exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays. Common skin cancers can be life-threatening, and it is crucial to understand the warning signs of the skin condition to ensure timely treatment. Therefore, you should always consult a professional skin cancer clinic in Melbourne to understand the symptoms, causes, and ways to prevent it. Most people end up searching “skin cancer clinic near me” to know the early signs of skin cancer and get professional help. 

Read on for more information on the types of cancers and determine if any spot raises concern.

Types of Skin Cancer, Symptoms, and How Do They Look

There are three types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Understanding such treatment terms and their symptoms can be overwhelming for you. So we have highlighted individual skin cancer types and their symptoms.

1. Basal Cell Carcinomas

Basal cell carcinomas are a type of skin cancer that develops in basal skin cells. Such skin cancer types may look like a red patch, shiny bump, elevated and indented centre skin growth. 

Basal cell carcinomas on the head or neck may initially appear as a pale patch or a translucent bump with evidently visible blood vessels or an indentation in the centre. If basal cell carcinomas develop on the chest area, it may appear as a brownish scar or flesh coloured lesion. In the development stage, such patches, bumps, scars, or lesions may eventually bleed upon injury or ooze become crusty.

2. Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinomas commonly occur on areas of your skin ordinarily exposed to sunlight. Such cancer types can appear on the face, ears, hands, arms, neck, and more. They can also appear in areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight, such as inside of your mouth or genitals. Squamous cell carcinomas may look like scaly red patches, open sores, elevated and indented centre skin growth, or warts. 

Over time, it may also develop as a firm lump on your skin. Unlike basal cell carcinoma, such lumps are rough on the surface and develop more like a reddish, scaly patch. Unlike a normal skin rash, such rough patches continue to develop and become cancerous.

Squamous cell carcinoma causes extreme itching, which further irritates and inflames your skin. Scratching these areas of your skin can lead to infections that should be treated with antibiotics. At times, these rough lesion-like patches can spread to lymph nodes and other body organs.

3. Melanoma

Melanoma is a life-threatening skin cancer type that requires immediate medical assistance. It can develop anywhere on your body – in normal skin or in an existing mole that becomes cancerous. Melanoma usually appears on the lower legs of women and on the chest, back, head, trunk, and neck of men.

They can also develop on skin that hasn’t been exposed to the sun’s UV rays. 

Such cancer types can affect people of any skin tone. In people with darker skin tones, melanoma develops on the palms or soles or under the fingernails or toenails. Melanomas appear as a large brownish spot with darker speckles, changing colour, size, and skin texture. It can also appear as a small lesion having an irregular border and portions in different colours such as red, pink, white, blue or a combination of blue and black. 

Conclusion

Learning about the types of skin cancer and their symptoms can be concerning and frightening. However, you can limit its spread with early detection, the right treatment, and regular examination from a professional doctor. You can search “skin check clinic near me” to find licensed skin clinics for a quick check-up.

For a comprehensive skin cancer check in Melbourne, make an appointment at Main Street Cosmetics.