AK usually appears as a small crusty, scaly, or crumbly bump on the skin surface.  It can be hard to locate because it may be light or dark, tan, pink, red, or a combination of the above.  It can even be in the same color as the skin.  Because the scale or crust is dry and rough, in which case spotting them through touch is quite effective.

Occasionally, you might find AK bleeding, or having surrounding skin swollen with different shades of red.

They generally grow very slowly into a size of about a quarter inch in length. The usual places that they would appear include the face, lips, ears, scalp, neck, backs of the hands and forearms, shoulders, and back.  The one found on the lips, called actinic cheilitis, could evolve into a type of squamous cell skin cancer that can spread rapidly to other parts of the body.

Sun damage remains the key factor giving rise to AK’s.

The AK lesions can be eliminated quite easily if treated early.  It is safe as they haven’t developed into skin cancers yet.  However, if left untreated, about 10% may progress to squamous cell carcinoma.

Metastasis is a key criterion for malignancy. When the cancerous tumor manages to penetrate from the epidermis layer into the dermis layer of the skin, it could spread out very fast, to lymph nodes, blood vessels, and so to distant sites inside the body.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma share many common characteristics. For instance, it is usually found in the sun-exposed areas of the body. The commonest sites would include the head, the nose, temples, rim of the ear and lip, as well as the side and back of the neck, and the dorsal surfaces of the hand and forearm. SCC also occurs in sites of previous burns, scars, or chronic ulcers; or on the mucous membranes of the mouth.

It would normally appear as a red, scaling, well-defined plaque and may gradually develop into an ulcer, a scaly crust, or a wartlike surface. Eventually, it can spread into the deeper or surrounding tissues. They may become itchy or painful, and the lesion may start to bleed or ulcerate.

Reoccurrence is quite common amongst people who have had their SCC removed before. Typically, a reoccurrence might happen in the first two years of the previous removal and is likely to appear in the same skin area as to the previous presentation.

Sunlight, X-ray exposure, arsenic ingestion, and occupational carcinogens are all key contributing factors to this skin cancer. As such, getting to know about these causes and building the knowledge of defence would surely be the most meaningful strategy.

Though it is generally found in Caucasian people, it has also been diagnosed in people with more pigmentation, including those of Asian or Mediterranean decent.

BCC develops from the basal cell layer of the epidermis. It usually grows very slowly and remains unchanged for years. It is labeled as non-melanoma because it rarely metastasizes or spreads to other parts of the body. However, if left untreated, all BCC can bleed or ulcerate.

They might appear as a small, shiny bump on the skin, in places that are often exposed to the sun, for instance, on the head, neck, arms, hands, and face.

Statistics show that there is a tendency of re-occurrence. 20 percent of people with a single BCC could develop a second one at another site within year, and 50 percent within three years. If there are two BCC at presentation, there is a 40 percent chance of developing a new one within a year.

Given this rate of re-occurrence, patients are advised to see their doctor twice a year for the first three years after treatment of the skin cancer, and then followed by yearly visits.

Melanoma (meaning black tumor) is not only the most malignant of all skin cancers, but it is also among the most malignant of all cancers. It can spread to nearly every organ and tissue in the body and can lead to death within a year after it recurs in distant sites.

According to the American Cancer Society, the most recent estimates show that America alone has over 68,000 new cases of melanoma every year, and more than 8,500 deaths annually directly attributable to this type of skin cancer. The lifetime risk of getting melanoma is about 1 in 50 for whites, 1 in 1000 for blacks, and 1 in 200 for Hispanics.

Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates in melanocytes located in the epidermis. These melanocytes are cells that produce melanin, the pigment that colors the skin, and protects it from harmful ultra-violet rays.

The majority of melanomas are brown or black. However, some are in the same color as the skin, or pink, red, purple, blue, or white. The usual sites of melanoma in white people include the head, neck, trunk, and limbs. In the black people, there is a good likelihood to show up on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and mucous membranes.

These tumors can also show up in somewhat unusual locations, such as under the nail of a finger or toe and on the mucosa lining inside of the mouth, vagina, or anus.

There are two phases of growth of melanoma – radially (outwardly on the surface of the skin) and vertically (deeply into the layers of the skin). Once the melanoma has penetrated deeply into the dermis of the skin, and has reached the lymphatic and blood vessels, the melanoma can utilize the lymphatics and bloodstream to spread to distant locations, most commonly to the lungs, liver, and brain. It is said to metastasize.

For patients with a melanoma less than 1mm thick, the likelihood of death due to the disease is only about 10%. However, this would rise to about 30% for a tumor with a thickness of 3mm.

Though we come across melanoma as a deadly skin cancer, there is a lot of hope for a 100 percent cure if it is detected and treated early. As a matter of fact, more than 90% of patients are alive for five years or more following their first diagnosis of melanoma.

Skin cancer is amongst the most common forms of cancer found these days. It is also highly preventable and very curable if it is caught early enough.

There are three different types of skin cancers that can be found on your skin.

The first form of skin cancer to emerge is squamous cell carcinoma. These neoplasms typically develop in areas which have been exposed to too much sun, more often than not  the face and the ears. A lump or a swelling is often the first manifestation of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. If left untreated, it ulcerates into an unhealing open sore which continues to grow in size. In the later stages it can also spread to other parts of the body.

Basal cell carcinoma is another one of the types of skin cancers. These are generally found on the face, hands and neck and are as many as seventy five percent of all skin cancers that are diagnosed. Basal cell carcinoma is very treatable and can be cured quite easily if it is found early enough. The symptoms of basal cell carcinoma are a sore that bleeds and is irritated. It may also resemble a fresh scar.

The third type of skin cancer is the most dangerous of all of them. It is melanoma and it can be found on any area of the body. It is usually found on the arms and legs in the beginning. It will look like a mole or freckle that has recently appeared on the skin. It can also be from an existing mole that has recently changed its size, shape or color. The border of the melanoma will be indistinguishable and it may have more than one color.

It is imperative that the melanoma type of skin cancer be found and eradicated early to prevent the problems that will come with the later stages of this skin cancer.

There are many steps you can take to prevent skin cancer. Most importantly, try protect your skin from the sun whenever you are outside. It is a good idea to always wear sunscreen no matter what time of year it is.  Have enough clothing to keep the skin from over-exposure to the sun.  Have a hat handy to keep your face and head in shade.

In a nutshell, if you can keep an eye on your skin and be mindful of  early symptoms of cancer development, you would likely keep yourself out of trouble.

As always, your best chance is from prevention and awareness.