Skin cancer develops when cells in the skin become damaged and begin to grow uncontrollably. Skin cells in the top layer of the skin, the epidermis, go through a typical cycle of dividing, maturing, dying, and then sloughing off. Normally, when skin cells are damaged, the body can make repairs that keep the skin growing and dividing normally.
If the body can’t repair a damaged skin cell, the cell stops going through that normal cycle and keeps dividing and growing.
- If it grows up, it causes a visible bump on the skin.
- If it grows out or down, it can damage surrounding tissue.
- If it spreads to other areas of the body, it has metastasized and it can also damage those areas.
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