Skin Cancer in Children and Teens: Symptoms and Causes

Learn about skin cancer in children and teens, including common symptoms, major causes, risk factors, and when to consult a doctor for early care and treatment.

Skin Cancer in Children and Teens: Symptoms and Causes

  • Category

    Dermatology

  • Published By

    GetWellGo Team

  • Updated on

    04-Jul-2025

Skin Cancer in Children

Skin cancer in kids is relatively uncommon but possible, and early diagnosis is important for successful treatment. Here's the detailed overview:

Types of Skin Cancer in Kids:

Melanoma (most frequent in kids)

  • Develops from melanocytes (pigment cells).
  • More invasive than other skin cancers.
  • Occurs in approximately 1-3% of pediatric cancers.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

  • Uncommon in children.
  • Typically slow-growing and due to UV radiation or genetic conditions such as Gorlin syndrome.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

  • Similarly uncommon in children.
  • Usually associated with chronic sun exposure or immunosuppression.

Spitz Nevus

  • A benign neoplasm that may mimic melanoma.
  • Frequent in children but must have meticulous assessment.

Skin Cancer in Teens

Teen skin cancer, although still rare in relation to adults, is the most prevalent type of cancer in individuals between 15–19 years old, particularly melanoma. Early detection and education on sun safety are very important in this group.

Overview of Skin Cancer in Teens:

Types of Skin Cancer in Teenagers

Melanoma (most prevalent in teens)

  • Involves melanocytes (cells that produce pigment).
  • Is aggressive and can metastasize to other organs if left untreated.
  • Frequently found on the trunk (males) or legs (females).

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC):

  • Uncommon in teenagers except with risk factors such as genetic syndromes or immunosuppression.
  • Typically found in elderly but can occur with sun damage or radiation therapy.

Spitz Nevus

  • A benign growth that is similar to melanoma.
  • Ubiquitous in teenagers and may need biopsy to exclude malignancy.

Child Skin Cancer Symptoms

Even though skin cancer is uncommon in children, it can happen, particularly if they have risk factors such as pale skin, too much sun exposure, or genetic disorders. Early warning sign recognition is necessary to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.

Major teen skin cancer symptoms:

Melanoma (most prevalent skin cancer in children)

Melanoma in kids might appear different than in adults. Look for:

"ABCDE" Signs (Altered for Kids)

  • A – Amelanotic: Lesion can be colorless, pink, or red (not necessarily brown or black).
  • B – Bleeding/Bump: Can look like a new bump that bleeds readily or refuses to heal.
  • C – Color uniformity: Some melanomas in children are all one color (not speckled).
  • D – De novo (new): New growth that wasn't there before, even in very young children.
  • E – Evolution: Sudden change in size, shape, color, or behavior of a mole or spot.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

  • Uncommon in children, more frequent in genetic conditions such as Gorlin syndrome.

Symptoms include:

  • Waxy or pearly bump
  • Flat, flesh-colored or brown scar-like lesion
  • Bleeding or oozing sore that won't heal

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

  • Even less common in children, can occur in immune-compromised children.

Symptoms include:

  • Rough, scaly patch that may crust or bleed
  • Wart-like growth
  • Sore that doesn't heal or recurs

Causes of Skin Cancer in Children

Skin cancer among children is uncommon, but it does occur, particularly in melanoma form. The etiology is usually a combination of environmental exposure, genetics, and personal risk factors.

Skin cancer causes in young people:

Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation – Principal Environmental Cause

  • Overexposure to the sun, particularly during childhood, is the prime reason for skin cancer.
  • UVB and UVA rays from the sun can hurt the DNA in skin cells.
  • Childhood sunburns, particularly blistering ones, raise the risk of melanoma later in life.
  • Sunlamps (if used by older kids or adolescents) are especially risky and pose a high risk of increasing melanoma.

Genetics and Family History

  • Family history of skin cancer or melanoma raises a child's risk.

Children can inherit genes that:

  • Make their skin more sensitive to UV radiation
  • Increase the quantity or unusual character of moles

Fair Skin and Light Features

Kids with:

  • Fair skin
  • Blond or red hair
  • Light-colored eyes
  • Have less melanin (natural sun protection) and are more likely to be damaged by the sun.

Large Number of Moles 

  • Having numerous moles or unusual (dysplastic) nevi raises melanoma risk.
  • A few children are born with giant congenital melanocytic nevi, which have a small but real melanoma risk.

Weakened Immune System

  • Children with immunosuppression (e.g., from organ transplants, cancer chemotherapy, or autoimmune disorders) are at increased risk for non-melanoma skin cancers.

Genetic Syndromes (Rare but Important)

Some inherited diseases increase the risk of skin cancer:

  • Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) – severe sensitivity to UV rays
  • Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome (Gorlin Syndrome) – excessive basal cell carcinoma risk
  • Familial Atypical Mole and Melanoma Syndrome (FAMMM)
  • Bloom Syndrome, Werner Syndrome, etc.

Radiation Exposure

  • Children treated with radiation (e.g., for leukemia or lymphoma) can have skin cancers in the treatment field years later.

Early Signs of Skin Cancer in Kids

While skin cancer is uncommon in children, early discovery is essential. Melanoma is the most frequently encountered type of skin cancer in children and can have an atypical appearance compared to adults. Contrary to adult melanoma, which has the classic "ABCDE" appearance, pediatric melanoma can be subtle or atypical.

General Early Signs of Skin Cancer in Children:

  • Changing Mole or Spot
  • New Growth or Bump
  • Non-Healing Sores
  • Unusual-Looking Lesions

Risk Factors for Skin Cancer in Children

Skin cancer is uncommon in children, but when it occurs, it’s usually melanoma. Identifying risk factors helps in early detection and prevention.

Top Risk Factors for Skin Cancer in Children:

  • Excessive Sun Exposure & Sunburns
  • Lack of Sun Protection
  • Family History of Skin Cancer
  • Fair Skin and Light Features
  • Moles
  • Genetic Conditions
  • Weakened Immune System
  • Previous Radiation Therapy
  • Tanning Bed Use

How to spot skin cancer in children?

Childhood skin cancer is uncommon, but when it does happen—particularly melanoma—the sooner it is caught, the better it can be treated. Pediatric melanomas tend to appear differently from the adult variety, so parents and guardians need to know what to look for.

Step-by-Step Guide to Identifying Skin Cancer in Children:

Routine Skin Exams

Check your child's skin each month, particularly:

  • During bath time
  • After a sun playdate
  • When using sunscreen or lotion

Pay special attention to:

  • Face, scalp, neck
  • Back, chest, arms, and legs
  • Hands, feet, between toes and fingers
  • Genital area and buttocks

Learn the Warning Signs

  • Amelanotic: Lesion can be pink, red, or skin-colored (not necessarily dark brown/black)
  • Bump/Bleeding: New bump that bleeds, crusts, or won't heal
  • Color uniformity: Can be one solid color rather than several tones
  • De novo (new lesion): New spot that wasn't previously present
  • Evolution: Any change in size, shape, color, texture, or symptoms

Monitor Changes Over Time

  • Photograph monthly any suspicious spots
  • Use a mole-tracking app or print out a skin chart
  • Measure using a ruler or coin as a reference

Common Skin Cancers in Children

While skin cancer is unusual in kids, it does happen. The most frequent forms are melanoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) — and often in that sequence. Certain benign growths can look like cancer, so accurate diagnosis is critical.

Melanoma (Most Frequent Skin Cancer in Kids)

Most Important Facts:

  • Causes the bulk of skin cancers in children.
  • Can happen prior to puberty, though more prevalent during adolescence.
  • More severe than adult melanoma if not recognized early.

What it appears like:

  • A new or changing mole
  • Could be pink, red, or flesh-colored (not only dark brown or black)
  • Could bleed, itch, or grow quickly
  • Could resemble a wart or bump (particularly in children under 10)

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Important facts:

  • Uncommon in children but more likely in children with genetic syndromes (e.g., Gorlin syndrome).
  • Typically occurs in areas of sun exposure.

What it appears like:

  • A pearly bump
  • Flesh-colored or pink nodule
  • Easily bleeds or creates a non-healing sore

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Important Facts:

  • Rarest of the three in children.
  • More frequent in immunocompromised children or those with genetic disorders (e.g., xeroderma pigmentosum).

Appearance:

  • Rough, scaly lesion
  • Can develop into a crusty or bleeding sore
  • Can look like a wart or chronic rash

Why Choose GetWellGo for Skin Cancer Treatment in Children and Teens?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

  • Complete transparency
  • Fair costs.
  • 24 hour availability.
  • Medical E-visas
  • Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
  • Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for skin cancer treatment.
  • Expert oncologist with a strong track record of success
  • Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
  • Language Support
  • Travel and Accommodation Services
  • Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
  • Local SIM Cards
  • Currency Exchange
  • Arranging Patient’s local food
  •  

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