Skin cancer begins in the cells of the skin. Some other types of cancer start in other parts of the body and can spread to the skin, although these are not skin cancers.

There are three main types of skin cancer:

• Basal cell skin cancers (basal cell carcinomas)

• Squamous cell skin cancers (squamous cell carcinomas)

• Melanomas

Basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer

Basal cell and squamous cell cancers are by far the most common types of skin cancer. Both cancers are found mainly in parts of the body exposed to the sun, such as the head and neck. These cancers are strongly related to sun exposure.