Introduction

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. The three main types of skin cancer--basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma--are caused, at least in part, by long-term sun exposure. Lymphoma can also develop in the skin (see Section 14, Chapter 177). Fair-skinned people are particularly susceptible to developing most forms of skin cancer because they produce less melanin, the protective pigment in the epidermis that filters out ultraviolet (UV) light. However, skin cancer also can develop in dark-skinned people and in people whose skin has not had significant sun exposure. Most skin cancers are curable, especially when treated at an early stage. Therefore, any unusual skin growth that persists for more than a few weeks is best examined by a doctor.

Doctors treat most skin cancers by removing them surgically. Usually, the defect that is left in the skin is small. Larger or more invasive cancer may require removal of a significant amount of skin, which may have to be replaced with a skin graft (see Section 16, Chapter 187).