Skin cancer occurs when there is damage to the DNA structure of normal skin cells which leads to uncontrolled and abnormal cell growth. This damage is commonly (but not always) caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, and can be amplified by a number of other risk factors.

About two in three Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime (Cancer Council Australia). Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, and Queensland has the highest rate in Australia (Queensland Health), so knowing your skin matters here.

The commonest types of skin cancer can be broken down into two groups; non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC, also called keratinocyte cancer) and melanoma.

Non Melanoma Skin Cancer

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Nodular basal cell carcinoma on the nose, clinical photograph — Nodular BCC · clinical© Dr Thomas Brinkmeier / WIKIDERM · CC BY 4.0

Dermoscopy image of a nodular basal cell carcinoma — Nodular BCC · dermoscopy© Dr Thomas Brinkmeier / WIKIDERM · CC BY 4.0

Superficial basal cell carcinoma, clinical photograph — Superficial BCC · clinical© Dr Thomas Brinkmeier / WIKIDERM · CC BY 4.0

Dermoscopy image of a superficial basal cell carcinoma — Superficial BCC · dermoscopy© Dr Thomas Brinkmeier / WIKIDERM · CC BY 4.0

Pigmented basal cell carcinoma on the nose, measured with a ruler — Pigmented BCC · clinicalM. Sand et al. · CC BY 2.0

Dermoscopy image of a pigmented basal cell carcinoma on the back — Pigmented BCC · dermoscopy© Dr Thomas Brinkmeier / WIKIDERM · CC BY 4.0

Micronodular basal cell carcinoma, clinical photograph — Micronodular BCC · clinical© Dr Thomas Brinkmeier / WIKIDERM · CC BY 4.0

Morpheaform (scar-like) basal cell carcinoma on the nose — Morpheaform BCC · clinicalM. Sand et al. · CC BY 2.0

Approximately 70% of all NMSC
Can be found anywhere on the body but usually sun exposed areas
Generally slow growing over months to years
Can often become inflamed and bleed (eg. drying off with a towel or a repeatedly bleeding spot whilst shaving)
Can look like a pearly lump or a dry, scaly, pink area
Are also often diagnosed on skin checks where patients are completely unaware (asymptomatic)
Rarely spread to other areas (metastasise)

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Small squamous cell carcinoma on the arm, clinical photograph — SCC · clinicalKelly Nelson / US National Cancer Institute · Public domain

Small keratotic squamous cell carcinoma near the temple, clinical photograph — SCC · clinicalKelly Nelson / US National Cancer Institute · Public domain

Advanced ulcerated squamous cell carcinoma of the nose, clinical photograph — Invasive SCC · clinicalUS National Cancer Institute · Public domain

Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (Bowen's disease) on sun-damaged skin — SCC in situ (Bowen's disease) · clinicalKlaus D. Peter · CC BY 3.0 DE

Keratoacanthoma, a squamous cell carcinoma variant, clinical photograph — KeratoacanthomaAFIP Atlas of Tumor Pathology · Public domain

Approximately 30% of all NMSC
Can appear anywhere but usually sun exposed areas
Can often present as a raised, scaly lesion with bleeding, ulceration or tenderness
Can be thick or flat, scaly, crusty and rapidly growing
May spread if left untreated, especially on high risk body areas including nose, lips, ears
Non-melanoma skin cancers were responsible for about 765 deaths in Australia in 2021 (Cancer Council Australia)

Melanoma

Melanoma rates in Australia are some of the highest in the world.

Melanoma with an uneven, ragged border, with a ruler for scale — Melanoma · irregular borderUS National Cancer Institute · Public domain

Melanoma with variation in colour — Melanoma · colour variationUS National Cancer Institute · Public domain

Melanoma with an increase in diameter — Melanoma · diameterUS National Cancer Institute · Public domain

Amelanotic (non-pigmented) melanoma, clinical photograph — Amelanotic melanoma · clinical© Dr Thomas Brinkmeier / WIKIDERM · CC BY 4.0

Dermoscopy image of an amelanotic melanoma — Amelanotic melanoma · dermoscopy© Dr Thomas Brinkmeier / WIKIDERM · CC BY 4.0

Melanoma is the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia (not counting basal and squamous cell skin cancers). About 17,400 new cases were estimated for 2025 (AIHW)
Melanoma is the second most common cancer in Australians under 40, after bowel cancer (AIHW, 2025 estimates)
About 1,450 Australians were estimated to die from melanoma in 2025, although melanoma death rates have been falling since 2011 (AIHW)
For people diagnosed with melanoma in 2017–2021, five-year relative survival was 94% (AIHW). This is a population figure and cannot predict any one person’s outcome, which depends on the individual melanoma and how early it is found
In 2022, 4,249 Queenslanders were diagnosed with melanoma (Queensland Health)
Serious, with metastatic potential, but early detection and treatment improves outcomes.
It is important to note that not all melanomas are pigmented and can be "amelanotic" as seen on the image above (right)

Check your skin

Knowing your own skin is the first step in finding skin cancer early. The Scan Your Skin campaign, a collaboration including the Skin Cancer College Australasia, uses a simple prompt: SCAN. Look for a spot that is:

Sore: scaly, itchy, bleeding or tender, and not healed within 6 weeks
Changing: in size, shape, colour or texture
Abnormal: looks or feels different, or stands out from your other spots
New: has appeared on your skin recently

If you notice a spot like this, or you are unsure, please book a skin check. You can also use the Scan Your Skin risk prediction tool to learn about your own risk, or find an accredited skin cancer doctor.

Dr Tey is a Skin Cancer College Australasia (SCCA) accredited skin cancer doctor and offers skin checks Monday to Thursday at MyLocalDoc Wishart.

Book online

Sources

Image credits

Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons and resized for this page.

Nodular BCC · clinical: Dr Thomas Brinkmeier (WIKIDERM), CC BY 4.0. Source
Nodular BCC · dermoscopy: Dr Thomas Brinkmeier (WIKIDERM), CC BY 4.0. Source
Superficial BCC · clinical: Dr Thomas Brinkmeier (WIKIDERM), CC BY 4.0. Source
Superficial BCC · dermoscopy: Dr Thomas Brinkmeier (WIKIDERM), CC BY 4.0. Source
Pigmented BCC · clinical: M. Sand, D. Sand, C. Thrandorf, V. Paech, P. Altmeyer, F. G. Bechara, CC BY 2.0. Source
Pigmented BCC · dermoscopy: Dr Thomas Brinkmeier (WIKIDERM), CC BY 4.0. Source
Micronodular BCC · clinical: Dr Thomas Brinkmeier (WIKIDERM), CC BY 4.0. Source
Morpheaform BCC · clinical: M. Sand, D. Sand, C. Thrandorf, V. Paech, P. Altmeyer, F. G. Bechara, CC BY 2.0. Source
SCC · clinical: Kelly Nelson / US National Cancer Institute, public domain. Source
SCC · clinical: Kelly Nelson / US National Cancer Institute, public domain. Source
Invasive SCC · clinical: US National Cancer Institute, public domain. Source
SCC in situ (Bowen's disease) · clinical: Klaus D. Peter, CC BY 3.0 DE. Source
Keratoacanthoma: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, public domain. Source
Melanoma · asymmetry: US National Cancer Institute, public domain. Source
Melanoma · irregular border: US National Cancer Institute, public domain. Source
Melanoma · colour variation: US National Cancer Institute, public domain. Source
Melanoma · diameter: US National Cancer Institute, public domain. Source
Amelanotic melanoma · clinical: Dr Thomas Brinkmeier (WIKIDERM), CC BY 4.0. Source
Amelanotic melanoma · dermoscopy: Dr Thomas Brinkmeier (WIKIDERM), CC BY 4.0. Source