While it's true that cancers occur most frequently in older people, skin cancer strikes at any age. In fact, much of the damage that leads to skin cancer occurs in young children and adolescents. For that reason, it is extremely important to protect yourself and your children from overexposure to the sun. It's also important to check your skin regularly and report any suspicious growth or changes to your doctor. If treated early, skin cancer is usually 100 percent curable. Melanoma is the most dangerous of skin cancers and can cause death.

There are three major types of skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinoma

The most common skin cancer is primarily caused by chronic exposure to sunlight. It can destroy the skin tissue of noses, ears, eyelids, and lips among other areas. It is not usually life-threatening unless it goes untreated for a long period of time.

Squamous cell carcinoma

The second most common skin cancer usually occurs in areas that have been overexposed to the sun. Ordinarily, this type of cancer grows slowly, but it can be aggressive and life threatening.

Melanoma

The deadliest form of skin cancer, has reached epidemic proportions worldwide, and is the most rapidly increasing cancer in the United States. If removed before it invades the lower layers of skin, it is almost 100 percent curable. If it invades the body and travels to other organs, however, it is hard to treat and frequently fatal. Melanoma can occur in parts of the body that have never been exposed to the sun.

To learn more about melanoma, click on the subjects under 'About Melanoma' in the left-hand column.