Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. It occurs in more than a million people each year, including many older people. There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Of the three, melanoma is the most serious. Skin cancer occurs when abnormal cells form and multiply in an uncontrolled way in the epidermis, or abnormal cells from the epidermis invade the dermis of the skin. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma are skin cancers that are named for the epidermal cells from which they develop.

What is Skin Cancer?

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer among light skinned individuals. It is the commonest cancer in the United States and in Australia. Each year, about one million people are diagnosed with this cancer. In 85 percent of these cases, the skin damage leading to the cancer occurs before an individual is 18.

Skin Cancer Classification

Skin Cancer Causes

Skin Cancer Diagnosis

Skin Cancer Prevention

Skin Cancer Management

Skin Cancer Pathology

Skin Cancer Symptoms

Hair Follicle Tumors

Rare Skin Cancers

Does Aspirin Increase Your Risk of Skin Cancer?

Understanding the Diversity of Skin Cancers

Latest Skin Cancer News and Research

New data reveals insights into cancer and cardiovascular safety of JAK inhibitors

Now, the work presented at the 2025 annual EULAR congress in Barcelona adds two important pieces to the puzzle.

12 Jun 2025

Study reveals a unique vulnerability in melanoma patients with neurofibromin 1 mutations

Increased activity in a specific biological pathway may explain why many patients with a deadly form of skin cancer do not respond to the latest cancer treatments, a new study shows.

10 Jun 2025

Multimodal AI technology boosts early detection of skin conditions

Detection of melanoma and a range of other skin diseases will be faster and more accurate with a new artificial intelligence (AI) powered tool that analyses multiple imaging types simultaneously.

9 Jun 2025

Mitochondrial DNA variant predicts resistance to melanoma immunotherapy

Results from a new study help resolve the decade-long mystery of why many patients with the deadliest form of skin cancer do not respond to the latest cancer treatments.

6 Jun 2025

Genetic mutation identified as key factor in immunotherapy resistance for melanoma

Tests in 1,225 patients with the most deadly form of skin cancer reveal for the first time a genetic trait among most of those who did not respond to the latest cancer treatments, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors.

5 Jun 2025

DANTE trial reveals promising outcomes for shortened immunotherapy in advanced melanoma

Reducing the length of immunotherapy treatment for an advanced skin cancer did not significantly diminish disease control when compared to giving treatments over a longer period, according to breakthrough research led by the Universities of Sheffield and Leeds and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

5 Jun 2025

New combination treatment offers hope for immune checkpoint blockade resistant skin cancers

A study has revealed why some patients don't respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy for solid cancer tumors and identifies a new combination treatment.

2 Jun 2025

Avelumab and cetuximab combination shows promise in phase II skin cancer trial

A phase II clinical trial led by the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that the combination of avelumab and cetuximab improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to avelumab alone in patients with advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).

1 Jun 2025

Combination treatment extends progression-free survival in advanced skin cancer

In patients with an advanced type of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), those who received the combination of the immunotherapy drug avelumab and targeted agent cetuximab had almost four times longer median progression-free survival compared to patients who received avelumab alone, according to the results of a phase 2 trial presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting and concurrently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

1 Jun 2025

Mass General Brigham researchers share cancer research discoveries at ASCO 2025

Researchers from Mass General Brigham will present research discoveries and outcomes from clinical trials in cancer at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, held May 30-June 3, in Chicago.

30 May 2025

Study identifies C5aR1 as a key marker of metastasis in skin cancer

Researchers have identified C5aR1 as a novel biomarker for metastasis risk and poor prognosis in patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), the most common type of metastatic skin cancer.

29 May 2025

Confocal microscopy may help identify biomarkers for chemotherapy-induced neuropathy

A University of Arizona Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher received a $2.4 million National Cancer Institute grant to develop a noninvasive, confocal microscope to examine nerve endings of cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in the hopes of identifying potential biomarkers for the disease.

22 May 2025

Air travel disrupts DNA repair in flight crew, raising cancer concerns

Researchers found that flight attendants show reduced DNA repair capacity and immune changes after air travel, which may help explain their higher cancer risk.

14 May 2025

Skin microbiome plays active role in sun protection and immune balance

The skin microbiome plays an important role in health and disease. Researchers have now substantiated that certain skin bacteria can protect us from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation specifically by metabolizing cis-urocanic acid using an enzyme called urocanase.

13 May 2025

Melanoma cases climb amid declining sunscreen use in Canada

Despite decades of public health messaging, Canadians are spending more time in the sun and using less sun protection – raising alarms among researchers as melanoma cases continue to climb.

3 May 2025

HonorHealth Research Institute treats first patient in global trial targeting aggressive melanoma

HonorHealth Research Institute recently treated the first patient in a 50-site international clinical trial that will test a new type of therapy aimed at difficult-to-treat melanoma, an aggressive type of skin cancer.

29 Apr 2025

New era of medicine emerges through structural control of nanotherapeutics

Historically, the vast majority of pharmaceutical drugs have been meticulously designed down to the atomic level.

25 Apr 2025

Common pinworm treatment may halt and reverse cancer growth in Merkel cell carcinoma

A common pinworm medication may stop and reverse cancer growth in Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, according to research led by University of Arizona Cancer Center researchers and published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

18 Apr 2025

Research explores how photo-oxidized sterols kill melanoma cells

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. Although less common, it is the most serious due to its high potential for metastasis.

16 Apr 2025

Empa scientists create innovative hydrogel for simulating the human skin

Growing cells in the laboratory is an art that humans have mastered decades ago. Recreating entire three-dimensional tissues is much more challenging.

16 Apr 2025