Courtesy of Roswell Park Cancer Talk Blog

Many things can cause an itch: Dry skin, poison ivy, and bug bites, to name a few. Typically, skin cancer isn’t the first cause of an itch that comes to mind. However, if irritation persists, it might be something you want a dermatologist to look at.

“Itching is not the usual symptom of skin cancer, and an itch, in general, is more commonly caused by something else,” says Ilene Rothman, MD, Associate Professor of Oncology at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Surprisingly, sometimes skin cancer can, in fact, itch, and occasionally that’s the complaint from patients.”

Not many studies have been done on itching as a symptom for skin cancers, but a 2014 study found that itching was a prevalent symptom in 36.9 percent of all non-melanoma skin cancers. The prevalence of itching was highest for patients with squamous cell carcinoma, at 46.6 percent.

“Pain or soreness is probably more common, but the skin has a lot of fine nerve endings, and some irritations to those nerve endings can produce itching or pain,” says Dr. Rothman. She adds, “Some less-common types of skin cancer are often accompanied by chronic itching, while other cancers, such as lymphoma and leukemia, can sometimes cause itching all over.”

You should not automatically jump to the conclusion that you have skin cancer if you are experiencing itchiness, since the cause may be due to a number of conditions. However, if you do experience an itch or soreness, it is important to keep an eye out for more common signs and symptoms, such as:

  • a change on the skin
  • a new lump or growth 
  • a change in an old lump or growth
  • a sore that doesn’t heal
  • a red or brown patch that is rough and scaly 
  • a pink pearly bump that bleeds easily

According to Dr. Rothman, the most important thing to know is that while skin cancer is very common, nearly 100 percent of cases may often be cured if they are detected early enough. If you have any new, odd-looking moles, lumps or blemishes, you should schedule a skin screening with a dermatologist regardless of whether you are experiencing itching or soreness.

Learn more about many other cancer topics, including skin cancer, at https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk, where you can also sign up to receive their monthly newsletter at https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/sign-up. 

To make an appointment at Roswell to evaluate your symptoms, call 1-800-767-9355 (1-800-ROSWELL).