Types of Skin Cancer
April 3, 2026
This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by Gaurav Singh, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.M.S., Mohs Micrographic Surgeon and Dermatologist, City of Hope® Cancer Center Chicago.
Several types of cancer may affect the skin. Skin cancer types are classified based on cells affected.
Patients who are diagnosed with skin cancer may receive a pathology report that details which type of skin cancer has been found. The care team also explains the diagnosis and provides suggested treatment options.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It’s also referred to as basal cell cancer and basal cell skin cancer.
Basal cell carcinoma most often develops on sun-exposed sites of the skin, such as the face, neck and shoulders. It typically appears as pink and shiny bumps that grow and have a tendency to erode or bleed.
Basal cell carcinoma typically affects only the skin, but can lead to significant disfigurement, depending on the size of the affected area. If left untreated, it will keep growing wider and deeper.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents about 20% of all skin cancer diagnoses. It may also be called squamous cell skin cancer, squamous cell cancer or cutaneous squamous cell cancer.
This condition most often develops in sun-exposed sites of the skin, appearing as pink and scaly bumps that grow and have a tendency to erode or bleed. SCC may also develop from actinic keratoses, which are small, pink, scaly spots on the skin caused by sun damage.
Early detection is critical since these skin cancers can spread to other parts of the body and lead to death. This cancer can spread to the lymph nodes.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer in which the melanocytes (cells which produce pigment) mutate and form tumors. An estimated 8,510 people are expected to die of melanoma in 2026.
The majority of melanoma is caused by the sun, while genetics may also play a role. Early detection is critical, since survival rates worsen as the condition progresses to its more advanced stages.
The five-year relative survival rate of Stage 1 melanoma is greater than 99%. After melanoma has spread to distant areas of the body, the five-year relative survival rate is 35%.
Less Common Skin Cancers
- Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer that develops in sun-exposed skin areas and has a high likelihood of spreading to other body parts.
- Skin (cutaneous) lymphoma, also called cutaneous lymphoma, is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that starts in the skin.
- Kaposi sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in lymph or blood vessel cells and tends to appear in the mouth and as lesions on the skin, but it may also develop in the lungs, liver and digestive tract.
- Skin adnexal tumors are tumors that start in hair follicles or skin glands.
- Sarcomas are soft tissue tumors that can begin in deep skin tissue.
Other skin conditions, such as actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma in situ (meaning it does not spread to other organs) are precancerous lesions. Early detection is critical to prevent them from becoming skin cancer.
Benign (Noncancerous) Skin Tumors
- Seborrheic keratosis is the most common type of benign skin tumor. Because it may have an asymmetric and evolving shape or irregular edges, it is often mistaken for a cancerous tumor.
- Moles, also called nevi, are common benign (noncancerous) skin growths. Most moles remain benign, but some may evolve into cancers.
- Hemangiomas are raised tumors that are made up of abnormal collections of blood vessels.
- Lipomas are soft, fatty lumps that develop just under the skin.
- Warts are skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus, also known as HPV.
- American Cancer Society. What are basal and squamous cell skin cancers? November 15, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/about/what-is-basal-and-squamous-cell.html
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. Types of skin cancer.
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/types/common - American Cancer Society. Survival rates for melanoma skin cancer. January 13, 2026. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/melanoma-skin-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates-for-melanoma-skin-cancer-by-stage.html
- American Cancer Society. Key statistics for melanoma skin cancer. January 13, 2026. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/melanoma-skin-cancer/about/key-statistics.html