Skin cancer starts in the cells of the skin. The skin is the body’s largest organ. It protects the organs inside your body from injury, infection, heat and ultraviolet light from the sun. The skin helps control your body temperature and gets rid of waste materials through the sweat glands. It also makes vitamin D and stores water and fat.

The skin has two main layers. The layer at the surface is called the epidermis. Below the epidermis is the dermis.The epidermis is made up of 3 types of cells:

• Basal cells are continually being made deep in the epidermis. Newly made round basal cells push the older cells toward the surface of the skin to become squamous cells.
• Squamous cells are old cells. As they move toward the skin’s surface, they become thin and flat.
• Melanocytes are also found deep in the epidermis, in between the basal cells. Melanocytes are cells that make melanin, which gives colour to your skin.

The most common types of skin cancer are squamous cell cancer and basal cell cancer. Both are known as non-melanoma skin cancer and they can usually be treated successfully.