Health and Safety Executive

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Skin cancer

What is skin cancer?

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. While most skin cancer is not to do with work, there are well-recognised causes for those that are linked with occupation. The most common causes of work-related skin cancers are:

Some substances can get in through the skin and cause cancers in other parts of the body.

What does it look like?

There is a range of signs linked with skin cancer eg a scaly patch of hard skin, a red lump or spot, an ulcer, a new mole, or a patch of skin which bleeds, oozes or has a crust.

What does it feel like?

Someone who has skin cancer may suffer itching and tenderness at the site of the rash.

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Updated 2010-05-02