July 2025

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. Roughly one out of five people will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70. About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers (e.g., squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas) are linked to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, mainly from the sun but also from tanning beds.

Skin cancers are named for the type of cells that become malignant, or cancerous. Here are the three most common types of skin cancer.

Melanoma

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes (pigment cells). More than 104,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with melanoma each year.

Melanoma is more likely than other skin cancers to spread to nearby tissues and even other parts of the body. When melanoma is caught early, before it metastasizes (spreads to other parts of the body), the five-year survival rate is more than 99%. Once it spreads regionally, the five-year survival rate falls to 71%. Once it spreads to distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rate falls to just 32%.

According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 8,500 people die every year from melanoma (about 5,500 men and 3,000 women).

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell skin cancer begins in squamous cells — flat cells that look like fish scales. We have many squamous cells. They make up most of the cells in the outer layer of the skin, the passages of the respiratory and digestive tracts, and the linings of certain organs, like the lungs.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer, and the most common type of skin cancer in people with darker skin. The ACS estimates that more than one million cases are diagnosed yearly in the U.S.

Squamous cell skin cancer sometimes spreads to other parts of the body. The ACS estimates that there are roughly 2,000 to 8,000 deaths per year from squamous-cell and basal-cell carcinomas combined. (Researchers don’t know the exact number of cases and deaths from either of these types of skin cancers because, unlike melanoma, they are not reported to or tracked by cancer registries.)

Most of those deaths are from squamous cell carcinomas, especially those that are caught late or occur in people with suppressed immune systems (like those with organ transplants).

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell skin cancer begins in the basal cell layer of the skin and usually occurs in areas exposed to the sun. The face is the most common site for basal cell skin cancer.

Basal cell skin cancer is the most common type of cancer and also the most common type of cancer in those with fair skin. The ACS estimates that more than four million cases of it are diagnosed each year.

It rarely spreads to other parts of the body and is seldom fatal.

Catching Skin Cancer Early

As with other types of cancer, outcomes are best if skin cancer is detected early. With melanoma, early detection greatly improves the five-year survival rate. For other types of skin cancer, catching it early can dramatically reduce the already small chance of serious complications. Plus, early detection will lead to less scarring and disfigurement. This is especially important if the growth is visible, such as on your face.

To catch skin cancer early, follow these guidelines from the ACS for doing a monthly skin cancer self-exam. Familiarize yourself with the ABCDEs of skin cancer so you know what the warning signs are in a growth: asymmetry, uneven borders, multiple colors, diameter greater than a pencil head, and a growth that is evolving in shape, size, or color.

Finally, consider getting a professional skin cancer check every one to two years. While these can be helpful for everyone, they are especially needed if you are light-skinned, have a lot of moles, a history of UV exposure (history of sunburns and/or spending a lot of time in the sun), or have a personal or family history of skin cancer.