skin cancer

I am a 15-year-old man and I have noticed that I have many small moles on my chest, arms and around my neck. Those who are on my chest and dark black, but the others are brown. I have about 20 moles but none of them are on my face. Is this a sign of skin cancer? should I go to the doctor?

Definition of skin cancer: Cancer that forms in tissues of the skin. There are different types of skin cancer. The skin cancer that forms in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment) is called melanoma. The skin cancer that forms in the bottom of the epidermis (outer layer of skin) is called basal cell carcinoma.

The skin cancer that forms in squamous cells (flat cells that form the surface of the skin) is called squamous cell carcinoma. Skin cancer that forms in neuroendocrine cells (cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system) called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. Form of skin cancer in older people on parts of the body exposed to sunlight or those with weakened immune systems.

Skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers combined are more common than lung, breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer

There are a variety of different skin cancer symptoms. These include changes in the skin that do not heal, ulcering in the skin, discolored skin, and changes in existing moles, such as jagged edges to the mole and enlargement of the mole.

Basal cell carcinoma usually presents as a raised, smooth, pearly bump on the sun-exposed skin of the head, neck or shoulders.

Squamous cell carcinoma is commonly a red, scaling, thickened patch on sun-exposed skin. Some are firm hard nodules and dome shaped like keratoacanthomas.

Most melanomas are brown to black looking lesions. Unfortunately, a few melanomas are pink, red or fleshy in color; these are called amelanotic melanomas. These tend to be more aggressive. Warning signs of malignant melanoma include change in the size, shape, color or elevation of a mole.

Merkel cell carcinomas are most often rapidly growing, non-tender red, purple or skin colored bumps that are not painful or itchy. They may be mistaken for a cyst or other type of cance