Skin cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the skin. The skin is the body's largest organ. It protects against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection. Skin also helps control body temperature and stores water, fat, and vitamin D. The skin has several layers, but the two main layers are the epidermis (upper or outer layer) and the dermis (lower or inner layer). Skin cancer begins in the epidermis, which is made up of 3 kinds of cells: Squamous cells: Thin...

An inherited condition that causes unusual facial features and disorders of the skin, bone, nervous system, eyes, and endocrine glands. People with this syndrome have an increased chance of developing basal cell carcinoma. Also called Gorlin syndrome.