Because many skin cancers develop where they can be seen, there is a good chance of catching them early. Regular examination of the skin for any new or unusual growths, or changes in existing moles is critical. If you find anything suspicious, you should discuss it with your primary care physician, a dermatologist (skin doctor) or a health care professional who is qualified to recognize the signs of skin cancer and diagnose the disease.

Skin cancer symptoms
Non melanoma skin cancer occurs most often on skin that is exposed to the sun. The symptoms of non melanoma skin cancer may be similar to symptoms of other non cancerous skin conditions. You should show your GP any area of skin that is damaged and does not heal up.

Skin cancers may look like
A spot or sore that does not heal within 4 weeks
A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, scab, crust or bleed for more than 4 weeks
Areas where the skin has broken down (an ulcer) and doesn't heal within 4 weeks, and you can't think of a reason for this change.
Basal cell skin cancers look like a small, slow growing, shiny, pink or red lump. They can also look like red scaly patches. If left, basal cell skin cancers tend to become crusty, bleed or develop into an ulcer. They are most common on the face, scalp, ears, hands, shoulders and back.

Squamous cell skin cancers are usually pink lumps. They may have hard or scaly skin on the surface. They may feel tender. They can bleed easily and develop into an ulcer. They are most common on the face, neck, lips, ears, hands, shoulders, arms and legs.

Home remedies Skin Cancer #1:
Be sure to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day, especially those foods rich in the antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamin C, and selenium, such as broccoli, carrots, and citrus fruits. Dr. Harvey Arbesman, Professor of Dermatology at the New York State University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, New York, makes this recommendation based on more than fifty studies of basal cell and squamous cell cancer of the skin and nutrition. His recommendations are supported by research done by Dr. Ken Nelder, professor of dermatology at Texas Tech University. Independent studies have found that people with skin cancer have lower than normal tissue levels of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and selenium. Further, it has been found that increasing the intake of vitamins A, C and E, beta-carotene, and selenium helps to protect against the development of skin cancer.
 
Home remedies Skin Cancer #2:
Include in your diet plenty of whole grains, sea vegetables, beans and soybeans, hot peppers, cabbage, tomatoes, onions, rosemary, garlic, grapes, citrus fruits, licorice root, green tea, flaxseed and olive oils, white fish, and maitake, reishi, and shiitake mushrooms. These foods are thought to have antioxidant, anticancer, and immune-boosting properties.
 

Home remedies Skin Cancer #3:
A diet high in omega-3 essential fatty acids and low in omega-6 essential fatty acids is important in helping to prevent melanoma. Therefore, you should consume fish oil and olive oil, and avoid corn oil, safflower oil, and sunflower oil. Even butter, with its higher ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 oils, is considered safer than eating corn oil insofar as the development of skin cancer is concerned. With a higher omega-6 to omega-3 fat ratio, the production of certain prostaglandins increases dramatically, which in turn increases the genesis and growth of skin tumors. One recent study found that a group of people with melanoma ate about twice as much omega-6 type oils as a similar group of cancer-free individuals. In mice, safflower and sunflower oils have also been shown to spur the growth of melanoma. Thus, eating fish at least twice a week and cooking with olive oil is recommended.