What Is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer, the abnormal growth of skin cells, most often develops on skin exposed to the sun.
But this common form of cancer can also occur on areas of your skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight.
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There are three major types of skin cancerbasal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.
Causes of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer begins in your skins top layerthe epidermis.
The epidermis is a thin layer that provides a protective cover of skin cells that your body continually sheds.
But sun exposure doesnt explain skin cancers that develop on skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight.
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Actinic keratosis can lead to more serious invasivesquamous cell carcinoma(SCC) if left untreated.
It is estimated that 40%60% of SCCs begin as actinic keratosis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is skin cancer?
2021;28(1):950-960. doi:10.3390/curroncol28010093
Skin Cancer Foundation.Squamous cell carcinoma: risk factors.
2019;116(37):616626. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2019.0616
