Skin Cancer Awareness Month

What Is Skin Cancer?

An overview of the classification and geographical locations of skin cancers (Roky *et al*., 2024)

Malignant Melanoma Development

A diagram presenting how malignant melanoma develops, accompanied by biological events and genetic mutations

A clinical presentation of dysplastic naevus

Breslow’s thickness

Staging System

A schematic diagram presenting the pathological stages of malignant melanoma

Benign Tumours

A visual presentation on the main types of Melanocytic Nevi

A Clinical Presentation of Junctional Naevi

A clinical presentation of seborrheic warts.

A clinical presentation of *Keratoacanthoma*

A clinical presentation of Actinic keratosis

NON-MELANOMA

An image presenting where basal and squamous cell carcinoma arise and the extent of melanoma.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

The table below presents key features and subtypes of basal cell carcinoma

An illustration of the basal cell carcinoma

Distinguishable features of subtypes of basal cell carcinoma

Morphological features of subtypes of basal cell carcinoma

A classification of how skin type and melanin production increase skin cancer risk.

Key Steps Involved In The Hedgehog Signalling Pathway

The effects of key molecules of the hedgehog signalling pathway upon activation and deactivation of the Patch receptor.

Squamous Cell carcinoma

The table below presents key features of squamous cell carcinoma

An insight into the exocrine glands: sweat (eccrine and apocrine) and oil glands (sebaceous)

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

The table below presents key features of Merkel cell carcinoma

The various effects of UV radiation and the MPCPyV virus on forming Merkel Cell Carcinoma

A clinical presentation of Merkel Cell Carcinoma

The pathological location of aberrant Merkel Cells

Kaposi Sarcoma

The table below presents key features of Kaposi Sarcoma

The structure of the Human Herpesvirus (HHV-8)

The structural features of the HIV virus

The characteristic features of Kaposi’s sarcoma on the skin and the mouth

Stages involved in Kaposi Sarcoma developments

The classification of immunosuppressants is based on their mode of action.

Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma

A diagram presenting the two main forms of lymphocytes and where they are produced and mature before release into the body.

A clinical presentation of how Mycosis Fungoides develops from Patch to Tumour on light and dark skin tones.

A microscopic presentation of Sezary cells

Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The production and differentiation of mesenchymal cells

The presence of the structural germ layers of the embryo, where one is known as mesoderm, whose role is in mesenchyme production.

Risks associated with organ transplantation

Factors involved in immunological rejection

The microscopic presentation of Dernatofibrosarcoma protuberns

Sebaceous Carcinoma

A clinical presentation of Muir Torre Syndrome

Atypical Fibroxanthoma

Recommended Sources

Top Doctors: Dermatologist Dr. Bashir

Spotting Cancer: Skin Cancer Guide

Skin Cancer Booklet Download

Skin Cancer Research Journal Article by Dr. Emily Carter

Identifying types of skin cancer, risk factors, and effective treatments Download

References

‌Cambridge University Hospitals (2026) Skin cancer. Available at: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/our-services/cancer-services/cancer-and-types-of-treatment/cancer-types-a-z/skin-cancer/ (Accessed: 5th February 2026)

Cancer Research UK (2026a) Types of non-melanoma skin cancer. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer/types (Accessed: 5th February 2026)

Cancer Research UK (2026b) Kaposi’s sarcoma (Kaposi sarcoma cancer). Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/soft-tissue-sarcoma/types/which-treatments-are-used-for-kaposis-sarcoma (Accessed: 5th February 2026)

Cancer Research UK (2026c) Skin Lymphoma Cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL). Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/types/skin (Accessed: 5th February 2026)

Cancer Research UK (2026d) Sebaceous gland carcinoma. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/skin-cancer/types/sebaceous-gland-carcinoma (Accessed: 5th February 2026)

Cancer Research UK (2026e). What is melanoma skin cancer? Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/melanoma/about (Accessed: 5th February 2026)

Clark, W.H., From, L., Bernardino, E.A., and Mihm, M.C. (1969). The Histogenesis and Biologic Behavior of Primary Human Malignant Melanomas of the Skin. Cancer Research, 29(3), pp. 705-727.

Green, A.C. and Olsen, C.M. (2017). Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: an epidemiological review. British Journal of Dermatology, 177(2), pp.373–381. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.15324.

Hextall, J. (2022). Skin cancer: how is it treated, and can it be cured? Available at: https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/medical-articles/skin-cancer-how-is-it-treated-and-can-it-be-cured/ (Accessed: 5^th February 2026)

Kwa, R.E., Campana, K. and Moy, R.L. (1992). Biology of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, [online] 26(1), pp.1–26. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/0190-9622(92)70001-V.

Liu, W., Dowling, J.P., Murray, W.K., McArthur, G.A., Thompson, J.F., Wolfe, R., and Kelly, J.W. (2006). Rate of growth in melanomas: characteristics and associations of rapidly growing melanomas. Archives of Dermatology, [online] 142(12), pp.1551–1558. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.142.12.1551.

Oakley, A. (2012). Fitzpatrick skin phototype. Available at: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-phototype (Accessed: 6^th February 2026)

Oakley, A. (2024). Congenital melanocytic naevus.s Available at: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/congenital-melanocytic-naevi (Accessed: 7^th February 2026)

Qasim, S. and Raghavan, S. (2023) Skin melanocytic tumor. Available at: https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/skintumormelanocyticspitzoidmelanoma.html (Accessed: 7^th February 2026)

Roky, A.H., Islam, M.M., Fuad, M., Mostaq, M.S., Mahmud, M.Z., Amin, M.N., and Mahmud, M.A. (2024). Overview of skin cancer types and prevalence rates across continents. Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapy, 3(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpt.2024.08.002.

Sarcoma UK (n.d.) Angiosarcoma. Available at: https://sarcoma.org.uk/about-sarcoma/what-is-sarcoma/types-of-sarcoma/angiosarcoma/ (Accessed: 6^th February 2026)

Scott, F.I., Mamtani, R., Brensinger, C.M., Haynes, K., Chiesa-Fuxench, Z.C., Zhang, J., Chen, L., Xie, F., Yun, H., Osterman, M.T., Beukelman, T., Margolis, D.J., Curtis, J.R., and Lewis, J.D. (2016). Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Associated with the Use of Immunosuppressant and Biologic Agents in Patients with a History of Autoimmune Disease and Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer. JAMA Dermatology, 152(2), p.164. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2015.3029.

Sung, H., Ferlay, J., Siegel, R.L., Laversanne, M., Soerjomataram, I., Jemal, A. and Bray, F. (2021). Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA: a Cancer Journal for Clinicians, [online] 71(3), pp.209–249. doi: https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21660.

Swali, R., Limmer, A., and Tyring, S.K. (2020). Kaposi Sarcoma of the Medial Foot in an MSM, HIV-Negative Man: A Fifth Clinical Variant. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 13(10), pp.42–44.

Tidy, C. (2021). Basal cell carcinoma. Available at: https://patient.info/doctor/dermatology/basal-cell-carcinoma (Accessed: 6^th February 2026)

Ting, S. (2025). Blue naevus. Available at: https://dermnetnz.org/topics/blue-naevus (Accessed: 7^th February 2026)

‌Tommasino, M. (2019). HPV and skin carcinogenesis. Papillomavirus Research, [online] 7, pp.129–131. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pvr.2019.04.003.

Updated: February 2026. Next Review: May 2028