Both carcinoma and melanoma are types of cancer. Carcinoma forms in the epithelial tissues, while melanoma develops in melanocytes and is generally considered a more aggressive type.

Skin cancer develops when skin cells grow abnormally and out of control. It is often associated with sun exposure (although there are exceptions) and is the most common cancer type in the United States.

Melanoma and carcinoma are types of skin cancer that can also develop in other organs. Melanoma forms in the melanocyte cells that give skin its color. Carcinoma develops in the tissues that line the skin and some cavities.

Carcinoma is a type of cancer that affects epithelial tissues, which line the skin, organs, and internal passageways in the body, such as the esophagus.

There are several types of carcinomas. This includes skin cancers like the following:

  • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type of skin cancer. It starts in the top layer of the skin in cells called basal cells.
  • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. It starts in the top layer of the skin and most often occurs in areas that receive sun exposure, such as the face, arms, legs, and neck.

Melanoma is not a type of carcinoma. Unlike carcinoma, it does not start in the epithelial tissues but rather in skin cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color.

Melanoma is considered the most invasive form of skin cancer, and it usually progresses quicker than carcinoma.

Carcinoma symptoms may vary depending on the type of cancer.

BCC may present with symptoms such as:

  • a new growth on your skin that doesn’t heal
  • shiny bumps that may be see-through in places (A BCC bump can appear white or pearl-colored on people with pale skin tones and black or brown on people with darker skin tones.)
  • flat patches with a raised border that looks or feels scaly
  • skin lesions that are blueish, brownish, purplish, or black and have a raised border

SCC symptoms may include:

  • a rough or scaly patch of skin that appears red on pale skin or purple, brown, gray, or red on darker skin tones
  • sores that don’t heal
  • a round area with a raised border (it may look like a raised sore)
  • dome-shaped growths that feel firm (not fluid-filled) to the touch
  • wart-like growths
  • sores that develop from an old scar
  • age spots that develop or grow quickly
  • growths that resemble small horns

Skin melanoma may involve symptoms such as:

  • moles, raised bumps, or scaly patches
  • growths with uneven borders and uneven color that may show shades of black, brown, gray, red, or white
  • growths larger than 6 millimeters (mm) where one half does not match the other in color, shape, texture, or border
  • growths that change and increase in size

Read more about how to spot melanoma.

The first line of treatment for skin carcinomas and melanoma is removing the cancerous growth.

Early diagnosis and medical treatment are associated with improved outlooks for all cancer types. Later stage cancer means the cancer has spread to distant tissues and organs, which makes it harder to remove and treat.

Treatments for all types of skin cancer can vary individually but may include:

  • Excision: Doctors use a scalpel to create a small incision to remove growths from the skin. They will cut the tumor out along with some of the surrounding skin and then send it to a lab for analysis.
  • Mohs surgery: This minimally invasive procedure involves removing a cancerous tumor by carefully removing layers of skin, conserving as much of the surrounding skin as possible.
  • Curettage and electrodesiccation: During this procedure, a doctor will scrape the skin growth and then use an electric needle or electrode to destroy any possible cancer cells in the surrounding tissue.
  • Radiation therapy: Radiotherapy addresses cancer cells that can’t be removed surgically. It can be used before or after surgery.
  • Cryosurgery: This therapy uses extreme cold temperatures to freeze and destroy cancer cells. In some cases, it can be an alternative to surgical tumor removal.
  • Immunotherapy: This pharmaceutical treatment aims to help your immune system fight cancer by strengthening it. It’s sometimes an option to treat skin cancer that has spread to other tissues.

Melanoma is more likely to spread to other areas compared with other types of skin cancer. When it does, doctors may need to use additional treatments. This includes:

  • Targeted therapy: This treatment uses drugs that attach to cancer cells and inhibit them from growing.
  • Chemotherapy: This treatment uses medications that destroy or slow down cancer cells.
  • Lymphadenectomy: This surgical procedure removes lymph nodes to help prevent the spread of cancer.

Outlook

Early cancer diagnosis of both melanoma and carcinoma improves treatment outcomes. However, melanoma is associated with lower survival rates because it advances quickly, and early symptoms may be missed, particularly if it develops in areas you don’t see or inspect too often.

The overall 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 94%. When doctors diagnose melanoma in the early stages, the survival rate is as high as 99%. In the late stages, the survival rate falls to 35%.

For people of color, survival rates may be even lower due to socioeconomic inequalities, limited access to care, and lack of representation in awareness campaigns and research.

Carcinoma skin cancers aren’t tracked in the same way as other cancers, including melanoma, so definite survival rates for people in the United States aren’t available. However, as with other cancers, early diagnosis and treatment improves outcomes.

Carcinoma skin cancers include basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas. Both of these respond well to treatment, particularly if diagnosed early. Melanoma usually develops quickly and may spread faster.

The primary treatment for all skin cancers is surgical removal of the cancerous growth, and depending on the stage, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other treatments may also be required.