Skin cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the skin's outermost layer, the epidermis. Skin cancers are primarily caused by exposure to DNA-damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
An estimated 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common form of cancer in the U.S. Fortunately, it is also one of the most preventable cancers, because sun exposure and tanning bed use are major risk factors in its development, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
