Is melanoma the most dangerous skin cancer?

Melanoma is much less common than the other main types of skin cancer, but it is much more likely to invade nearby tissue and spread to other parts of the body. Most deaths from skin cancer are caused by melanoma.

So while melanoma is not the skin cancer people are most likely to get, it stands apart because of how likely it is to spread. The main types of skin cancer are squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma, and skin cancer is the most common type of cancer overall.

If you have questions about melanoma or your own risk, your healthcare team can help. They can explain what changes in your skin or moles to watch for and how to protect your skin from UV radiation.