Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, but do you know the symptoms to look out for or what causes it?
People all over the world have been affected by skin cancer including the likes of Duchess of York - Sarah Ferguson, Australian actor Hugh Jackman and radio DJ Chris Evans.
There are two types of skin cancer - melanoma and non-melanoma.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body, according to the NHS.
While non-melanoma skin cancer, NHS inform says, refers to "a group of cancers that slowly develop in the upper layers of the skin" .
Non-melanoma is the more common of the skin cancers, while melanoma spreads faster in the body.
You or someone you know may have skin cancer so here are the symptoms to look out for and ways to avoid getting it.
Skin cancer symptoms
Melanoma skin cancer
Signs of melanoma skin cancer include a new mole appearing on your body or a change in an existing mole, the NHS says.
"Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun," the NHS website continues.
"Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals.
"Check your skin for any unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see."
Moles that could be associated with melanoma skin cancer include ones that are:
- Uneven (shape or edges)
- Mix of colours
- Large
- Have changed over time
People are urged to see a GP if they have a mole that has:
- Changed size, shape or colour
- Is painful or itchy
- Inflamed, bleeding or crusty
- A new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks
- A dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury
Non-melanoma skin cancer
The main symptom of non-melanoma skin cancer is a growth or unusual patch on the skin, the NHS website says.
Any part of your skin can be affected, but it's most common in areas exposed to the sun, such as the:
- Head, face and ears
- Neck and shoulders
- Back
- Hands
- Lower legs
The NHS adds: "The growths or patches can vary in colour, size and texture."
People are urged to see a GP if they have a growth on their skin that:
- Is getting bigger or has changed colour or texture
- Hurts, itches, bleeds, crusts or scabs for more than 4 weeks
Skin cancer pictures - what it looks like
The NHS website has shared a number of photos showing examples of various forms of skin cancer:
Melanoma skin cancer
Non-melanoma skin cancer
Causes of skin cancer
The most common cause of skin cancer (both melanoma and non-melanoma) is ultraviolet (UV) light, according to the NHS.
UV light comes from the sun and is also used in sunbeds.
Skin cancer is more common in older people, but younger people can also get it.
You're also more likely to get skin cancer, the NHS says, if you have:
- Pale skin that burns easily in the sun
- Red or fair hair
- Blue or green eyes
- A large number of freckles or moles
- Had a lot of sun exposure and you've had sunburn a lot in the past
- Used sunbeds a lot
- A history of skin cancer in your family or you've had skin cancer before
How to avoid getting skin cancer
The NHS says: "Staying safe in the sun is the best way to lower your chance of getting skin cancer (both melanoma and non-melanoma)."
RECOMMENDED READING:
-
Breast cancer symptoms to look out for, causes and treatment available
-
What is shingles? Major questions answered from its cause to if it can kill you
-
What is an enlarged prostate as King Charles gets set for hospital visit
It recommends:
- Staying out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm in the UK)
- Keeping your arms and legs covered and wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses when outside to provide protection against UV rays
- Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection – make sure you reapply it regularly
- Make sure babies and children are protected from the sun
For more information, visit the NHS website or if you have any concerns contact your local GP.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here