Skin Cancer Facts

The skin is the largest organ in the human body. It functions in many important ways. Skin protects the body against injury, infection, and sunlight. It also regulates body temperature. The skin stores fat and provides Vitamin D.

As the drawing above demonstrates, the skin has two main layers. The Epidermis is the upper level. The Epidermis is made up of mostly scale-like cells called squamous cells. Round cells, called Basal Cells, lie deeper, underneath the squamous cells. Even deeper in the Epidermis lay cells called Melanocytes. Melanocytes are the cells which produce melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its color. When the skin is exposed to sunlight, Melanocytes produce more pigment, which turns our skin darker.

The Dermis is the lower layer. The Dermis contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, hair follicles, and glands.

Skin Cancer is the most common of all cancers. Over 500,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. Here are some interesting facts: