If things go smoothly, your skin cells will do their job for their natural lifespan of around 28 days, and when their time comes, they are replaced by a brand new batch of skin cells. Trouble occurs when this process is disrupted in any way or form, that’s when you need to check out for skin cancer. Skin cancer, if left untreated for an extended period, can gradually make its way to other tissues of your body. Keep reading this article to find out 7 warning signs you should watch if you want to stay free of skin cancer.

The Main Types Of Skin Cancer

There are two main types of skin cancer, which people in the medical world call melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. Let’s understand these two types of skin cancers in further detail, shall we?

Melanoma Skin Cancer

This one is the more dangerous of the two types of cancer and is the fifth major form of cancer in the UK alone. This skin cancer resides mainly in the skin cells called melanocytes. These cells are found in the deeper crevices of your epidermal layer, just somewhere between your basal cell layers. What melanocytes do is produce melanin for your skin, which itself is responsible for giving your skin its color. Also, it serves as a protective layer against the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet rays. While it is typically found in people of any age whose skin is exposed to sunlight, it still can appear in people living in areas with relatively lower amounts of sunlight. Older adults are the most common age group to be affected due to their weakened immune system.

The initial signs of melanoma include but are not limited to changes in color, shape, feel and size of any preexisting moles on your body. Melanoma Skin Cancer is the more fatal of the two types of skin cancer. It can spread rapidly to other body parts if left unchecked and untreated.

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer

Though less fatal, non melanoma skin cancer makes up for at least 90% of all skin cancer. This is not just us saying that but is the claim of the British Skin Foundation. This one is also caused by those pesky ultraviolet rays thrown in your way by the sun, or you can still be susceptible to this if you use sunbeds. Non-melanoma skin cancer lays down sprouts from the top layer of your skin. Again, this one is not as dangerous as the previous one and can be easily treated. Non-melanoma skin cancer has two major types:

Basal Cell Carcinoma: Affecting primarily people with fair skin, this ailment can often be observed on people’s nose, head and neck. The only way to detect it is to look out for any lesions on your skin. There is no need to worry, though you can get this easily treated, and it is highly unlikely that this will affect other areas of your body. Once you have treated this and it’s gone, you don’t have to be on the lookout for this occurring again.

1. Nodular BCC: Dome-shaped bump prone to bleeding if left untreated. Comes in different hues ranging from red, pink, black and brown.
2. A Morpheaform BCC: Light-colored waxy lesion, which is hard to the touch but smooth and shiny in appearance. It can be easy to miss due to its resemblance to scars.
3. Superficial BCC: Residing typically in the regions surrounding your chest, legs, backs and arms. Appearance-wise, it may look scaly pink or like a red plaque with a white border surrounding it. Becomes crusty and starts to ooze in the case of negligence.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Once again, you can blame the sun as it occurs in areas with a high rate of exposure to the sun. What’s more, it can also spread to areas that are not affected by the sun at all. They appear in the general vicinity of your soles or palms and may show themselves in the form of changing a mole or large brown spots.

Summarizing the 7 Main Skin Cancer Signs to Look Out For 

Now, here’s the part that you clicked on this article for:

1. Random spots on your skin.
2. Growth of new moles that change in shape or color and bleed easily.
3. Rough patches on the skin.
4. Skin begins to change in different places.
5. Sores that won’t heal.
6. Ulcers.
7. Bleeding lesions.