It’s a common thinking about skin cancer that it appears on the sun exposed areas of the skin, like face, scalp, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands. But a lot of cases are reported with skin cancer, on the skin parts which are rarely exposed to the sun, palms, beneath finger nails, spaces between the toes or under the toe nails, and genital area. Moreover, skin complexion may very in case to case.

The appearance of symptoms depends on the type of skin cancer. In some types, it gradually developed and slowly showed itself while in other it can be appeared suddenly.

The symptoms, according to the type of skin cancer, have been mentioned as below;

Basal Cell Carcinoma

The most common type that does not metastasize is Basal Cell Carcinoma. It showed up itself in one of the of following symptoms;

• A translucent or waxy bump on the face, ears or neck
• Appearance of flat and scar like lesions, having brown or flesh like color, on the chest and back

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma is second in commonality to Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), as to say it can also be treated easily on early detection. But unlike to BCC, it has the aptitude to spread itself. It can be revealed by the below forms;

• A firm red lump on the face, lips, ears, hands and arms
• Flat abrasion having scale or crust like surface on face, lips, arms, neck and hands

Melanoma

This is the most deadly type of skin cancer that can even lead the patient to death. It can invade the skin cells of any part of body or can turn an existing mole into malignant one. Melanoma is diagnosed by;

• In the form of a large brownish spot having darker speckles found anywhere on the body
• A simple mole on the body that started changing its color and size or that bleeds often
• Shiny, hard dome-shaped bumps appeared on any part of body
• Small lesions having irregular border with red, white, blue or bluish- black spots on the trunk or limbs
• Enlarging of already existed skin lesions
• Dark colored lesions on the palms, soles, fingertips and toes or on the lining, made up of mucous membrane, of mouth, nose, vagina or anus

Symptoms of less common cancers

The skin cancers which are not common include Kaposi sarcoma, Markel cell carcinoma, and sebaceous gland carcinoma.

Kaposi Sarcoma

This is a rare and deadly type of skin cancer that has been developed in the blood vessels. It appears in the form of red or purple patches on the mucous membrane or on the skin. It invades the people having weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS or immunosuppressant medications used after organ transplantation.

Merkel cell carcinoma

Markel cell carcinoma is found on the body areas which have direct contact with sunlight. It grows rapidly and often extends to other body areas. In this type the cancer appears in the form of hard shiny bumps on the skin or just beneath the skin and sometimes in the hair follicles. These nodules can have different colors like red, pink or blue and their sizes may range from quarter of an inch to more than 2 inches.

Sebaceous Gland Carcinoma

It is the uncommon but aggressive type of skin cancer that occurs in the oil glands, found in the skin. It usually appears in the form of firm, unproblematic nodules that can grow anywhere, but in most cases, this attacks eyelid. And often are reckoned as a normal growth.

It’s a good thing to notice and suspect any change occurs in the skin but it does not mean that all the changes are cancerous in their nature. So, a dermatologist should be consulted in order to know what change is harmless and what is malignant.