This is the least common skin cancer, but is certainly the most dangerous, and the incidence of melanoma is increasing rapidly. When diagnosed early, melanoma is treatable and curable. If not treated quickly, melanoma can leave the skin and spread throughout the body, which can cause death.

This is the next most common kind of skin cancer. SCC does carry a risk of leaving the skin and spreading too distant tissue when it is more advanced. Because of this, SCC can become life threatening if left untreated. This risk is highest for immunosuppressed patients.

The most common type of skin cancer, BCC is also usually the least dangerous. BCC usually grows slowly and rarely spreads in the body. However, if left untreated it can grow beneath the skin and into the underlying tissue and bone, destroying normal tissue as it expands.