Skin growths are classified as either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). There are three main types of skin cancer. The most common and least serious is the basal cell carcinoma (BCC) which typically appears as a shiny, small lump on sun-exposed skin. It may bleed, develop a crust, seem to heal, and then bleed again. Although these tumors grow slowly, they can become very large and penetrate deeply.
The second type of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that may appear as a bump, a red scaly growth, or an ulcer. SCC, if left neglected and untreated, can spread beyond the skin to the lymph nodes and internal organs.
Melanoma is the least common but most serious form of skin cancer. It usually appears as a dark brown or black mole with uneven borders and irregular colors, or has shades of black, blue, red, or white. Melanoma most commonly occurs on the upper backs of men and women, and on the lower legs of women. It also can develop on the face, scalp, fingers, toes, and any other area of the body. There is a rare form of melanoma that occurs in families with many unusual or atypical moles, some of which may need to be removed to avoid problems.
A change in a mole can indicate a serious problem. If a mole becomes larger, changes color, is asymmetric, develops an irregular border, itches, crusts, bleeds, or is painful, consult a dermatologist.