Skin cancer can pave the way to most of common diseases such as malignancy, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Again, tumors are normally occur on the areas of sun-exposed skin. Such areas include the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands and probably on the legs in women. Skin cancer can occur in all skin tones, with fair and darker complexions. After the age of 50, this particular cancer appear in people. However, it is recommended to prevent the skin from sun's damaging effects from the early stage of life.

Following are the types of Skin Cancer:

The major types of skin tumors are:
 
1. Melanomas: These types of skin cancer appear in the skin cells, called melanocytes. These cells make pigment in the skin, however, this is not so common.

2. Basal Cell carcinomas:  Such types of cancer form in basal cells, the small cells in the base of the outer layer of skin.

3. Squamous Cell carcinomas: These skin cancers are appear in squamous cells. These are the flat cells that form the surface of our skin.

Other than the above, here are some of the rarer types of skin tumors:

1. Neuroendocrine carcinomas: These occur in the cells that hormones, called neuroendocrine cells. These cells release hormones when they get signals from the nervous system.
2. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.
3. Merkel cell carcinoma.
4. Kaposi's sarcoma.

Symptoms of Skin Cancer

The symptoms of melanoma include a large brownish spot with darker speckles at any location of your body; a mole on your body that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds; a small lesion with an irregular border; red, white, blue or blue-black spots on your trunk or limbs; shiny, firm, dome-shaped bumps at any position on your body; dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips and toes or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina and anus.

The symptoms of basal cell carcinoma may vary that depends on the type. However, it may include skin changes such as a  firm, pearly bump with tiny blood vessels in a spider like appearance (telangiectasias).

Then the signs of squamous cell carcinoma may include any persistent, firm, red bump on sun-exposed skin.


Treatment of skin cancer

The treatment of skin cancer also varies from types of cancer. Dermatologic surgical treatments include surgical excision, electrodessication and curettage. In curettage, the tumor is burnt in combination with low levels of electricity, cryosurgery and laser surgery. Some other dermatologic treatments include radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy. In the later, before the exposure of the skin to a light source, a chemical is applied. Mohs micrographic surgery is specially preferred for basal cell carcinomas.