The skin protects our body against heat, light, infection and injury. It also stores water, fat and vitamin D. It is made up of three distinct layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis.

Skin cancer is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the outer layers of the skin. Normally the cells of the skin divide in an orderly manner, allowing the body to grow and to heal after an injury. Sometimes for some reasons, some cells grow in an abnormal way and may grow into a lump called tumour which may be benign or malignant. A malignant tumour is made of cancer cells, and if not treated, may spread into other areas. Sometimes these cancer cells break away from the original cancer and spread to other organs to form another cancer.

In Singapore, it is the 7th most common cancer in males and 8th most common cancer in females.*

* Singapore Cancer Registry, Interim Report, 2001-2005