Table of contents:
- The characteristics of skin cancer based on the type
- 1. Basal cell carcinoma
- Wounds that don't heal
- Irritated skin
- Lumps that are shiny or light in color
- An area of skin that looks like a wound
- 2. Squamous cell carcinoma
- The presence of scaly red patches
- The presence of a lump
- Open wound
- 3. Melanoma
- A forasymmetry(asymmetric)
- B forborder(border / edge)
- C forColour(color)
- D fordiameter(size)
- E forevolving(developing)
In general, skin cancer occurs in areas that are frequently exposed to sunlight. However, this does not mean that the disease cannot attack the skin in other parts of the body. The symptoms of each type of skin cancer can be different. Therefore, see a complete explanation of the symptoms or characteristics of skin cancer that need attention in the following article.
The characteristics of skin cancer based on the type
Skin cancer is divided into three types, namely basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Each of these types of cancer can have different characteristics on the skin. Then what are the symptoms of each of these types?
1. Basal cell carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma appears as small, smooth, pearly bumps on the skin. Usually, one type of skin cancer appears on areas of the skin that are frequently exposed to the sun, including the face, ears, neck, scalp, chest, shoulders, and back.
Some of the following characteristics may indicate symptoms of basal cell carcinoma type skin cancer, namely:
If you have an open wound that won't heal, and it may bleed, or turn dry and peeling, consult a doctor immediately. Especially if the wound lasts for weeks. These wounds can also heal but then reappear.
Being more sensitive to the various changes that occur in the body, including the skin, is what you should do. One example, if you notice irritated or reddish skin on your face, chest, shoulders, arms, or legs.
The reason is, this could be one of the characteristics of skin cancer. Not only that, you may experience basal cell carcinoma if the irritated skin peels, feels itchy, and hurts.
If you find a lump that is shiny or bright, pink, red, or white in color, it could be a sign of basal cell carcinoma type skin cancer.
However, the bumps that appear can be dark in color, especially if they appear on people with darker skin tones. Not to mention, this one skin cancer symptom is often mistaken for an ordinary mole.
Basal cell carcinoma can also be characterized by the presence of areas of skin that are white or yellow that are more shiny than other areas of skin.
Then, the area looks tight but seems to blend in with the rest of the skin that doesn't matter. This condition may indicate the characteristics of this type of skin cancer.
2. Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is another type of skin cancer. Although the cause of squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer is relatively the same as other types of skin cancer. It's just that, the location of cancer tends to be different, as well as the characteristics that may arise from this skin cancer.
Squamous cell carcinoma is usually present in the form of a red, usually rough lump, and sores on the skin such as scales and crusts. This characteristic usually appears in areas that are frequently exposed to the sun, such as the scalp, neck, face, ears, and hands.
However, people who have dark skin color usually have squamous cell carcinoma in areas that are rarely exposed to sunlight, such as the palms and soles of the feet. Some of the signs of this type of skin cancer are:
One of the characteristics that you must understand from this type of skin cancer is the appearance of red patches that may also be scaly. These scaly patches can make the skin peel or bleed.
If you find these characteristics, immediately contact your doctor to determine whether you have skin cancer or not.
Slightly similar to the signs of basal cell carcinoma type skin cancer, this type of skin cancer also has the potential to cause a lump. In fact, sometimes the lump that appears actually looks sunken in the middle.
Open sores that characterize skin cancer usually don't heal. In fact, even if it can heal, the wound has the potential to reappear. These open sores usually have areas that are dry and easy to peel off.
3. Melanoma
Melanoma is one of the most serious types of skin cancer. Therefore, the Skin Cancer Foundation states that detecting melanoma is an important step in determining the treatment for this skin cancer.
The characteristics of melanoma skin cancer are:
- There are bruises that cannot be healed.
- There is a spread of pigment that is initially only in the form of dots, then spreads to the surrounding skin.
- Swollen moles or the surrounding skin turns reddish.
- There is an itching feeling that sometimes turns into pain.
Not infrequently, melanoma can be difficult to distinguish from an ordinary mole. Therefore, pay attention to the ABCDE method which can help you more easily determine whether a mole on your body is a melanoma.
A forasymmetry(asymmetric)
Usually, the characteristics of this type of skin cancer are asymmetrical. This means that if you draw a straight line down the middle of the mole and the two sides are not the same, it may not be an ordinary mole, but a melanoma.
B forborder(border / edge)
The edges of melanoma are usually uneven or the skin on the edges is peeled off. Meanwhile, regular fly tofu will have smooth skin edges and don't peel off.
C forColour(color)
The presence of various colors in a mole can be a sign that it is not an ordinary mole but a type of skin cancer, namely melanoma. If a regular mole is only one color, melanoma moles can come in a variety of colors, ranging from black, brown, and blue.
D fordiameter(size)
When compared with ordinary moles, the characteristics of melanoma moles are their size which tends to be larger than ordinary moles. Usually, the size of the melanoma is 6 millimeters (mm) larger than the size of fly tofu in general.
E forevolving(developing)
Melanoma lumps can change size (become smaller or bigger), change shape, and change color. Even the lump, which may look like a mole, can cause itching and bleeding.
Therefore, you should immediately detect skin cancer if you feel certain symptoms. This can be one of your efforts to prevent skin cancer. If you are diagnosed with skin cancer, at least your doctor can immediately help determine the type of treatment that suits your health condition.
By treating this condition as quickly as possible, you have helped speed up the process of treatment which can increase your potential as a patient to recover from this skin cancer.
