Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops when skin cells called melanocytes grow and divide more quickly than usual, which is typically caused by UV damage. While it is less common than non-melanoma, it can be serious if left untreated as melanomas can penetrate deeper layers of the skin and spread to other parts of the body.

Melanomas are most commonly found on the skin which is most frequently exposed to the sun but can be found anywhere on the body. Melanoma can develop from an existing mole or from a new mole which has appeared more recently.

Non-melanoma skin cancers develop slowly in the upper layers of the skin and are not connected to moles. They tend to develop on parts of the skin which are exposed to the sun, so typically on the face, head, back and lower legs. They’re more common than melanoma but are not as likely to spread to other parts of the body. Most non-melanoma can be effectively treated and cured if detected early.

The most common type of non-melanoma skin cancer in the UK is Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). BCC grows very slowly and is very unlikely to spread to other parts of the body. Early diagnosis is still important as treatment is more difficult for BCC’s that have been there for a long time and can be more likely to grow back.

The second most common non-melanoma skin cancer in the UK is Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). These cancers grow slowly but are more serious than a BCC because there is a small chance these cancers could spread to another part of the body.