Skin cancer is a serious but preventable condition affecting many Australians – with sun protection and early detection, we can reduce the risks. Learn how to protect your skin, recognise warning signs, and take control of your skin health.
Learn more about:
- Overview
- What causes skin cancer?
- Who is at higher risk for skin cancer?
- How to check your skin
- What should you look for?
- Signs of melanoma
- Non-melanoma (keratinocyte) skin cancer
- What about other skin spots?
- Frequently asked questions
Overview
Skin cancer can be deadly, but it can be successfully treated if found early.
We know that 2 in 3 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime. It is vital that every Australian protects their skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation to prevent skin cancer from developing.
As well as protecting their skin, Australians should get to know their skin. Monitor your skin, including skin not normally exposed to the sun, and consult a doctor if you notice any new spots or changes to existing freckles or moles, including the shape, colour or size of a spot.
Currently, there is no population-wide skin cancer screening program in Australia. This is because there is not enough high-quality evidence to show that the benefits of a screening program would outweigh the potential harms for people without concerns about their skin, such as the potential for unnecessary stress and undergoing medical treatments.
What causes skin cancer?
More than 95% of skin cancers are directly related to exposure to UV radiation. UV radiation most often comes from the sun, but it can also come from artificial sources such as solariums.
When your unprotected skin is exposed to the sun or other UV radiation, the structure and behaviour of your skin cells can change. This can permanently damage the skin, and this damage adds up over time and can lead to the development of cancerous skin cells
The good news is it is never too late to start protecting your skin! The best way to avoid skin cancer is by regularly protecting your skin from UV. Every day you protect your skin, you reduce your risk.
Learn more about the different types of skin cancer, melanoma and the early detection of skin cancer.
Download the free SunSmart Global UV App for your Android device or iPhone to check your daily local sun protection times.
For more information visit Understanding UV radiation and Preventing Skin Cancer
Who is at higher risk for skin cancer?
All Australians are at risk of skin cancer due to the high levels of UV radiation we experience. However, some Australians have a higher risk, including people who have:
- had a previous skin cancer, including melanoma
- a family history of skin cancer
- fair or freckled skin, especially those with skin that burns easily and doesn’t tan
- red or fair hair and light-coloured eyes (blue or green)
- lots of moles, or lots of moles with irregular shape and uneven colour
- worked outdoors or spent a lot of time outside (e.g. gardening or golfing)
- had short, intense periods of exposure to UV radiation
- actively tanned, sunbaked or used solariums
- a weakened immune system – this may be from having leukemia or lymphoma or using medications that suppress the immune system (e.g. for rheumatoid arthritis, another autoimmune disease or for an organ transplant)
- certain skin conditions, including sunspots, because they show that you have had a lot of skin damage from exposure to the sun
You can assess your personal risk of melanoma using a Melanoma Risk Predictor tool. You should always consult your doctor if you think you might be at risk, particularly if you have noticed a new or changed skin lesion. The Melanoma Risk Predictor is not intended to be used as a substitute for your doctor’s advice.
How to check your skin
While protecting your skin from UV radiation is the best defence against skin cancer, it is also important to regularly check your skin for new or changed spots. About 95% of skin cancers are treatable if found early. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, and most melanomas are found by the person with the melanoma or their partner.
In a room with good light, undress completely and use a full-length mirror to check your whole body. You can use a handheld mirror to check areas that are difficult to see, or you can ask someone to help you.
Make sure you check your whole body, not just the areas exposed to the sun, including hard-to-see areas like your back, scalp and back of your neck.
If you notice a new spot or one that has changed, consult your doctor.
What should you look for?
Skin cancer can appear anywhere on your body, so it is essential to check your whole body, not just areas exposed to the sun.
Skin cancers don’t all look the same, but there are signs to look out for, including:
- a spot that looks and feels different from other spots on your skin
- a spot that has changed size, shape, colour or texture
- a sore that doesn’t heal within a few weeks
- a sore that is itchy or bleeds.
Signs of melanoma
For melanoma, the ABCDE guidelines can be helpful.
| Asymmetry | Are the halves of each mole different? |  |
| Border | Are the edges uneven, scalloped or notched? |  |
| Colour | Are there differing shades and colour patches? |  |
| Diameter | Is the spot greater than 6 mm across, or is it smaller than 6 mm but growing larger? |  |
| Evolving | Has the spot changed over time (size, shape, surface, colour, bleeding, itching)? |  |
Please note that some melanomas, like nodular and desmoplastic melanomas, do not fit these guidelines. So, it is important to see a doctor if you notice a new spot or one that has changed.
Non-melanoma (keratinocyte) skin cancer
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
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Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)
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| the most common signs | a pink, pearl-like, flat or raised lump; shiny, pale/ bright/dark pink scaly area | a thick scaly lesion; a fast-growing pink lump; a red, scaly or crusted spot |
| what it may feel like | can be itchy, inflamed, ulcerate, weep, ooze, scab or bleed; may “heal” then inflame/bleed/itch again | can become inflamed and often feel tender to the touch; may occasionally bleed |
| where it is most often found | sun-exposed areas, such as head, face, neck, shoulders, arms and legs, but may be anywhere | sun-exposed areas, such as head, neck, hands, forearms and lower legs, but can start anywhere |
| how it usually grows | slowly over months or years; very rarely spreads to other parts of the body; may grow deeper, invade nerves and tissue, making treatment more difficult | quickly over weeks or months; called invasive SCC if it invades past skin’s top layer; untreated, may spread to other parts of the body (metastatic SCC) |
| the risk factors | having had a BCC increases the risk of developing another BCC | SCCs on head, neck, lips and ears, and in people immunosuppressed, are more likely to spread |
Learn more about basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
What about other skin spots?
Some spots that appear on the skin are not cancerous. We have given examples of the most common ones here, but these skin spots can vary in how they look.
If you are concerned about any mark or growth on your skin, see a general practitioner (GP) or a dermatologist to have it checked.
Types of non-cancerous skin spots
Sunspots (actinic or solar keratosis) |
Age spot (seborrhoeic keratosis) |
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Mole (naevus) |
Irregular mole (dysplastic naevus) |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Cancer Council encourages you to become familiar with your own skin, including areas not usually exposed to the sun. If you notice any changes in the shape, colour, or size of an existing spot or mole, or if a new spot appears, consult a doctor. It is also helpful to ask others to check difficult-to-see areas.
Cancer Council does not offer skin checks, and we are unable to recommend a specific doctor or clinic. As a charity, Cancer Council remains impartial and does not provide clinical advice for any cancer.
We recommend you consult a General Practitioner (GP), medical centre or skin cancer clinic, as they may be able to conduct a skin check or refer you to a skin specialist like a dermatologist.
- You can locate a clinic or doctor by searching for a Skin Cancer College accredited doctor (i.e. this is a GP with additional training in skin cancer, where no referral is required) at http://www.skincancercollege.org/.
- Before choosing a doctor or clinic, enquire about their experience and qualifications in dealing with skin cancer.
Currently, there is no set guideline regarding how often Australian adults should get their skin checked. Cancer Council recommends that you regularly monitor your own skin via self-examination and visit a GP if you notice any changes or new suspicious spots. A GP can refer you to a specialist if required.
People at higher risk of skin cancer should discuss a plan of how often they should check their skin with their doctor. A full skin examination, supported with photography and dermoscopy, may be necessary every 6-12 months.
While protection from UV radiation is the best defense against skin cancer, regular skin checks via self-examination for new and changed spots and early detection strategies are an important approach to reducing your risk of skin cancer. This is because most melanomas are found by the person with the melanoma, or their partner.
There is no population-wide skin cancer screening program in Australia. This is because there is not enough high-quality evidence to show that the benefits of a screening program would outweigh the potential harms for people without concerns about their skin, such as the potential for unnecessary stress and undergoing medical treatments. However, the current evidence does support people at higher risk of skin cancer having a plan with their doctor.
Some smartphone apps let you photograph your skin at regular intervals and compare the photos to check for changes. These apps may be a way to record any spot you are worried about or remind you to check your skin.
However, research shows that apps cannot reliably detect skin cancer. If you notice a spot that worries you, make an appointment with your doctor straightaway.
Checking your skin regularly is important because early detection of skin cancer, including melanoma, significantly improves the chances of successful treatment. Melanoma is the most lethal type of skin cancer, but if caught early, it is often treatable with less invasive procedures. Regular skin checks help you become familiar with your skin so that you notice any changes which may be a sign of skin cancer. Early detection can prevent the cancer from advancing to more dangerous stages, reducing the risk of severe illness or death. Additionally, knowing your skin and consulting a doctor promptly if you notice any changes can lead to early intervention and better health outcomes.
You can assess your personal risk of melanoma using a Melanoma Risk Predictor tool. You should always consult your doctor if you think you might be at risk, particularly if you have noticed a new or changed skin spot. The Melanoma Risk Predictor is not intended to be used as a substitute for your doctor’s advice.
At least 95% of all skin cancers are directly related to overexposure to UV radiation from the sun. This is why protecting our skin from the sun’s UV rays is the most effective way to reduce our risk of skin cancer. This means making it a regular habit to wear protective clothing, sunglasses and a broad brim hat, apply SPF 50 or higher sunscreen to all unprotected skin, and use available shade.
Evidence shows prevention works. For example, regular sunscreen use can halve the chance of new melanomas developing and regular wearing of protective clothing in children can reduce the appearance of new moles, which is an indicator of sun damage.
If you notice any changes with your skin, it’s important to consult a doctor because we know that some melanomas can grow quickly and become life-threatening in as little as a few months. This is why protecting your skin and getting to know your skin and what is normal for you is important.
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You can also order, download or print our skin cancer prevention resources here.
