Melanoma skin cancer
There are 2 main categories of skin cancer:
non melanoma skin cancer - including , skin cancer and other rare types
melanoma skin cancer
This page is about melanoma skin cancer.
Read more about non melanoma skin cancer
The skin is a body organ. It does several jobs, including:
protecting the inside of the body from damage
helping to control body temperature
getting rid of some waste products through sweat
making vitamin D (this helps form and maintain our bones)
The skin is made up of 2 main layers, the epidermis and the dermis.
The thickness of the epidermis and the dermis varies depending on the part of the body the skin is covering. For example, the skin on the soles of your feet is quite thick, with an epidermis and dermis of about 5mm. The skin on your eyelids is much thinner, about 0.5mm.
Melanoma skin cancer can start anywhere on the skin. It may start:
in a mole
on a patch of normal skin
on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
under the nails
Melanoma starts in cells in the skin called melanocytes. These cells are in the deep layer of the epidermis between the layer of basal cells.
Melanocytes make a pigment called melanin. This gives skin its colour. The pigment helps to protect the body from ultraviolet light (UV radiation) from the sun.
UV radiation can cause sunburn. This is a sign of damage to the genetic material () in skin cells. Over time, enough DNA damage can cause cells to grow out of control and lead to cancer.
In people with white skin, melanoma is more common on skin that has been exposed to the sun. But it can start anywhere.
It’s melanin that gives you a sun tan. Melanocytes make more melanin when they are exposed to the sun. This is then transferred to other skin cells to protect them against the sun's rays.
People with brown or black skin do not have more melanocyte cells than people with white skin. But their melanocytes are more active and make more of the pigment.
Rarely melanoma can develop in areas not exposed to the sun. Melanomas in the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and under the nails are normally a type of melanoma called acral melanomas. They are not related to exposure to the sun. Acral melanomas are more commonly diagnosed in people with brown or black skin.
Read more about how cancer starts
Melanoma skin cancer can happen at any age, but it's more common in older people. Unlike most other cancer types, it's also quite common in younger people.
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun or sunbeds is the main environmental factor that increases the risk of getting melanoma skin cancer.
Other risk factors include:
skin type
hair and eye colour
number of moles
family history of melanoma
Read more about the risk factors for melanoma skin cancer
Around 17,600 people are diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in the UK each year. The number of people diagnosed has increased over the last few decades.
Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer in the UK.
Last reviewed: 02 Jan 2025
Next review due: 02 Jan 2028
The risk of developing melanoma skin cancer depends on many things including how much ultraviolet radiation you get from the sun and your skin type.
Symptoms include changes to a mole, freckle or normal patch of skin. Doctors use a checklist of signs to look out for. But it helps to know what your skin normally looks like.
Melanoma starts in cells called melanocytes. You have these in your skin and other parts of your body including your eye. There are different types of melanoma skin cancer.
These pictures are only a guide to what melanoma skin cancers may look like. If you’re worried about a skin change it is important to get it checked by your GP.
See your GP if you develop a new mole, abnormal area of skin or changes to an existing mole. They will look at it and may refer you to a specialist.
Melanoma develops in cells called melanocytes. You have these in your skin and other parts of your body. Melanoma that starts in the skin is called melanoma skin cancer.
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