Non melanoma skin cancer
Non melanoma skin cancer is different from . Melanoma is the type of skin cancer that often develops from a mole. This can be a mole that is already on your skin or a new mole or lesion that has recently appeared.
Keratinocytes are the main skin cells in the outer layer of the skin (epidermis). They include basal cells and squamous cells. So basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are also called keratinocyte carcinomas.
Find out more about melanoma skin cancer
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of non melanoma skin cancer. It is also called basal cell skin cancer and rodent ulcer. Around 75 out of every 100 non melanoma skin cancers (around 75%) are BCCs. They develop from basal cells and these are found in the deepest part of the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis).
They develop mostly in areas of skin exposed to the sun such as your head and neck. But they can also develop in other parts of the body.
There are different types of BCC. Each type can look and behave differently. They include:
nodular basal cell skin carcinoma– this is the most common type
superficial basal cell skin carcinoma
infiltrative basal cell carcinoma - also called sclerosing or morphoeic basal cell carcinoma
pigmented basal cell skin carcinoma
A rare type of non melanoma skin cancer is called basosquamous carcinoma. This is a mixture of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
It's very rare for a BCC to spread to another part of the body to form a . It's possible to have more than one BCC at any one time. And having had one increases your risk of getting another.
Find out more about symptoms of skin cancer
Squamous cell skin cancer (SCC) of the skin is also called:
cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
squamous cell skin cancer
They are generally faster growing than BCCs. Around 23 out of every 100 skin cancers (around 23%) are SCCs. They begin in cells called keratinocytes, which are found in the epidermis.
Most SCCs develop on areas of skin exposed to the sun. These areas include parts of the head, neck, and on the back of your hands and forearms. They can also develop on scars, areas of skin that have been burnt in the past, or that have been ulcerated for a long time.
SCCs don't often spread. If they do, it's most often to the deeper layers of the skin. They can spread to nearby and other parts of the body, but this is unusual.
Merkel cells are a type of cell in the top layer of skin. So Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a type of of the skin.
It is very rare. Each year around 360 people are diagnosed with MCC in England.
It usually develops on areas of skin exposed to the sun. Unfortunately, unlike the most common types of skin cancer, MCC develops rapidly over weeks or months. It can spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, lungs, liver or bones.
Find out more about merkel cell carcinoma
Sebaceous gland cancer is another rare type of skin cancer. It starts in the sebaceous glands. These are the glands that produce our natural skin oils.
It can develop anywhere in the body. But the most common site is the upper eyelid. It can sometimes spread to other parts of the body such as the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, or bones.
Find out more about sebaceous gland cancer
Kaposi’s sarcoma is a rare type of soft tissue sarcoma. It's often linked with but also develops in people who don't have HIV. It is a cancer that starts in the cells that form the lining of lymph nodes and the lining of in the skin.
It most commonly develops on the skin, but it can also affect the inside of the body. Kaposi sarcoma can develop in several areas of the body at the same time.
Find out more about Kaposi's sarcoma
Skin is a rare type of . It is also called cutaneous lymphoma.
In skin lymphoma, lymphocytes grow out of control within the skin. There are 2 types of – T cells and B cells. And there are 2 main types of skin lymphoma:
cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) starts in the T cells of the skin
cutaneous B cell lymphoma (CBCL) starts in the B cells of the skin
CTCL is the more common type of skin lymphoma, but it is still rare. It causes flat red patches on the skin that look like eczema and can be itchy. Several parts of the body can be affected.
CBCL is a more unusual type. People tend to have lumps on their skin in 1 or 2 areas, rather than affecting all of the body.
Find out more about cutaneous T cell lymphoma
Find out more about cutaneous B cell lymphoma
Bowen’s disease is a very early form of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). It is slow growing. It can appear anywhere on the skin and usually looks like a small red scaly patch that might be itchy.
It is most common on skin exposed to the sun such as the head and neck area. But it can grow anywhere. It can also develop on moist membranes of the body such as the mouth and genital area.
If not treated Bowen's disease might develop into a SCC.
Last reviewed: 21 Mar 2026
Next review due: 21 Mar 2029
Non melanoma skin cancer includes basal cell skin cancer, squamous cell skin cancer and other rare types.
The stage of cancer tells you its size and whether it has spread. The grade tells you how much the cancer cells look like normal cells.
You usually have surgery to treat skin cancer, but you may have other treatments such as chemotherapy cream, radiotherapy, targeted and immunotherapy or photodynamic therapy.
The cure rates for non melanoma skin cancers are very high.
Get support to cope during and after skin cancer treatment, including how to protect your skin in the sun.
Non melanoma skin cancer includes basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and other rare types. They tend to develop most often on skin that has been exposed to the sun.
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