SKIN360AI · SKIN-CANCER GUIDE
Skin Cancer by Body Area: Where It Appears and What To Watch
Skin cancer can appear anywhere — but some sites are more common, and some are easy to miss. A guide by body area.
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Written & reviewed by Dr Rupinder Singh Walia — MBBS, FRACGP, Dip. Dermatology (Cardiff, UK) · AHPRA MED0001647256 · special interest in skin cancer medicine & dermoscopy
Skin cancer can appear anywhere on the body, but some sites are far more common than others — and a few are easy to miss simply because you cannot see them. This guide points you to the areas worth watching, and the site-specific guides for each. Worried about a spot? A doctor can review it for $49.
The most common sites
Skin cancer favours skin that has had the most sun over a lifetime:
- Face — the most common site, especially for BCC (nose, cheeks, ears, lips).
- Scalp — often missed, especially with thinning hair.
- Back — the most common site for melanoma in men, and hard to self-check.
- Chest & décolletage — a lot of cumulative sun.
- Arms & hands and legs — legs are the most common melanoma site in women.
The signs are the same everywhere
Wherever it appears, watch for a spot that is new, changing, growing, bleeding, or will not heal, or a mole that stands out. See what skin cancer looks like and the symptoms.
Don’t forget the hidden areas
The back, scalp, backs of the ears, and between the toes are easy to overlook — enlist a partner, use mirrors, or take photos. Get a spot reviewed — $49.
Not a diagnosis; cannot rule cancer in or out.
Worried about a mole, mark or changing skin area?
Most skin-cancer advice tells you to watch for change. Skin360AI helps you keep photos of one or more spots connected over time. A spot can be a mole, freckle, mark, lump, sore, patch or any skin area you want to watch. It is not a diagnosis and cannot rule skin cancer in or out.
If a lesion is new, changing, bleeding, non-healing or worrying you, arrange an in-person GP or skin-cancer clinic assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Where does skin cancer most commonly appear?
On the most sun-exposed skin: the face, ears, scalp, neck, shoulders, back, and the backs of the hands and forearms. In men melanoma is most common on the back; in women, on the legs.
Can skin cancer appear where the sun does not reach?
Yes. While UV is the biggest cause, skin cancer — especially melanoma — can appear anywhere, including the soles, palms and under nails.
Which areas are easiest to miss?
The back and scalp, because you cannot see them yourself. Ask someone to check, use mirrors, or take photos so a doctor can review anything unusual.
Check and watch the spots you care about over time
Use the free AI-assisted skin check to save photos of moles, marks, lumps, sores, patches or other skin areas you want to watch. A photo record is not a diagnosis or a cancer all-clear.
Free AI skin check →See how skin monitoring works →
A structured photo record is not a diagnosis, cannot exclude skin cancer and does not replace an in-person examination.Medically reviewed by
Dr Rupinder Singh Walia (MBBS, FRACGP, Diploma in Dermatology — Cardiff University, UK; AHPRA MED0001647256). Last reviewed August 2026. This information is general and is not a diagnosis; it cannot rule skin cancer in or out. See your GP or a skin-cancer clinic in person for anything that concerns you.