Types of Skin Lesion & Cancers
Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world. Skin cancer occurs as a result of damage to the skin cells, most commonly from overexposure to UV radiation from the sun.
Melanoma
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive and fast growing skin cancers. They are usually an ugly and changing black/brown mole, but can also be pink and ulcerated. The key to diagnosis is being aware of a rapidly growing or changing skin lesion.
Skin cancer doctors are skilled at using a special magnifier to pick the clues to these nasty lesions. If caught and removed early, there can be very good outcomes for melanoma. So those with a strong family history, lots of dark moles and a long history of sun exposure should check themselves and get a professional skin check regularly.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
SCCs are a nasty form of skin cancer which can grow very quickly. They are usually found on areas of the body most exposed to the sun e.g. scalp, face, neck, shoulders, forearms and hands. Like melanomas, SCCs can invade into the deeper structures of the skin and spread around the body. This is more common on certain areas of the face. There are the second most common type of skin cancer.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
BCCs are the most common, but least aggressive of the skin cancer types. They don’t tend to metastasise or spread around the body. Like SCCs, they are more common on sun exposed areas. BCCs grow very slowly where they are over months or years, so it is good to have them removed before they get too large or start affecting nerves or other underlying skin structures. There are different subtypes of BCC that can be more tricky to remove, so the doctor might still do a biopsy first to find out which one it is.
Solar (Actinic) Keratosis
Solar or actinic keratosis might also be called “sun damage” or “early skin cancer.” These are areas of skin that have been exposed to the sun for many years and are more common in people with fair skin.
Although on their own, they are not cancerous, they are a warning sign of skin cancer and they can turn into SCCs over time. Skin cancer doctors may advise patients to moisturise these areas, use cryotherapy (freezing), topical chemotherapy creams or have a biopsy if the keratosis is looking suspicious.
Dysplastic Naevi
These are skin lesions that look brown and chaotic but are not melanoma. Although they aren’t thought to “turn into” melanoma over time, it is known that they do identify a patient as having a higher than normal risk of developing melanoma elsewhere on the body in the future. Patients with multiple dysplastic naevi are recommended to have regular checks and a biopsy on any lesions that are changing.
Dermal and simple naevi
Often patients will have many naevi (or moles) on different parts of their skin. Like seb keratoses, they are not dangerous and shouldn’t change dramatically over time. Skin cancer doctors are trained in assessing which moles are benign or non-nasty looking and which ones might need further investigation with a biopsy.
