The occurrence of skin cancer due to melanoma has increased in recent years. The signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma and skin cancer need to be watched out for!

Can birthmarks cause melanoma and skin cancer? It might sound improbable since we all have commonly found birthmarks, but not all of us develop basal cell carcinoma.

The signs and symptoms of melanoma and basal cell carcinoma may differ mildly but are usually associated with rapid growth, discoloration, bleeding of moles, birthmarks, and formation of pimples on the skin.
 

Birthmarks Causing Melanoma Leading to Skin Cancer

Melanoma is caused only by certain types of birthmarks that affect the skin. According to the U.K. Cancer Research Institute, a very rare type of birthmark called the congenital giant melanocytic nevus can develop into melanoma-causing skin cancer.
 

These birthmarks can be placed in three categories. They are considered small if they are smaller than one and a half centimeters in size, medium when they are smaller than 20 centimeters, and large when they are more than 20 centimeters in size. The chances of small- and medium-sized birthmarks leading to melanoma and skin cancer are similar to the risks faced by regular individuals. However, in the case of large birthmarks, there are considerably greater chances of acquiring melanoma and developing basal cell carcinoma.
 

Basal cell carcinoma is more often caused due to birthmarks that are present on the surface of the skin, called epidermal birthmarks. Basal cell carcinoma is a less severe version of skin cancer when compared with melanoma. Here, the skin-cancer-causing epidermal cells are usually not deep-seated and can be easily removed with surgery.

Of the two types of skin cancer that could be caused due to birthmarks (melanoma and basal cell carcinoma), melanoma is definitely the more serious type and is one of the most severe forms of cancer itself.
 

Some of the common signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma include reddish patch of dry skin that does not heal, flesh-colored pearl-shaped lump, sores that bleed, and scars that feel waxy, group of slow-growing shiny or pink sores.
 

Signs and symptoms of melanoma include moles that grow, are oozing blood, feel itchy, and patchy formation in the new skin, and streak underneath finger nails. One of the characteristic signs and symptoms of melanoma also includes delayed healing of bruises in the foot.