A woman in a wide-brimmed hat applying sunscreen to the back of her hand under a shady tree

Kanser Kulit: Tanda, Tahi Lalat & Cara Cegah

十月 22, 2026 Drann Editorial Team

Skin cancer (kanser kulit) can often be treated successfully when it is found early, and the main cause, ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, is one you can protect yourself from. The two main groups are non-melanoma skin cancer, which is more common, and melanoma, which is less common but more serious. People with brown skin have a lower chance of skin cancer but can still get it, and in Asians melanoma often appears on the soles of the feet, palms or under a nail, where it is easy to miss. This guide covers the tanda kanser kulit, which tahi lalat (moles) to check, Malaysian data and how to use sunscreen properly.

Apa itu kanser kulit?

According to the NHS, non-melanoma skin cancer is a common type of cancer that starts in the top layer of skin. The main types are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and it can often be easily treated.

Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body. The NHS says it is less common and usually more serious than non-melanoma skin cancer. It often starts as a new mole or a change in an existing mole.

Worldwide, the WHO reports that over 1.5 million skin cancers were diagnosed in 2020, including around 1.2 million non-melanoma skin cancers and 325,000 melanomas, and over 120,000 people died from skin cancer that year.

Kanser kulit di Malaysia

According to the Malaysia National Cancer Registry Report 2017-2021 from the Ministry of Health:

4,346 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 509 melanomas were registered from 2017 to 2021;
non-melanoma skin cancer was the eighth most common cancer in men; in women, with 1,881 cases, it ranked just outside the top 10;
about three in four women with non-melanoma skin cancer (1,429 of 1,881) were aged 60 or older, but 55 of the 242 women with melanoma were younger than 50;
among women with non-melanoma skin cancer and a recorded stage, 63.9% were found at stage 1;
among women with melanoma and a recorded stage, 45.7% were found at stage 4 and 20.2% at stage 3.

Women, 2017-2021	Non-melanoma skin cancer cases (rate per 100,000*)	Melanoma cases
All women	1,881 (2.5)	242
Malay	699 (1.8)	92
Chinese	797 (3.5)	100
Indian	96 (1.8)	11

*Age-standardised incidence rate. Source: Malaysia National Cancer Registry Report 2017-2021, incidence summary and staging tables. The rate of non-melanoma skin cancer was higher in Chinese women than in Malay or Indian women.

Tanda kanser kulit (non-melanoma)

According to the NHS, the main symptom of non-melanoma skin cancer is a growth or unusual patch on the skin. It is most common in areas exposed to the sun, such as the:

head, face and ears;
neck and shoulders;
back;
hands;
lower legs.

The growths or patches can vary in colour, size and texture. Some are bumpy, rough or crusty, and some start as a flat discoloured patch. They can be purple, brown or red, and the patches may be darker on brown or black skin. Not every new growth is cancer (for example, see our guide to ketuat), but the NHS advises seeing a doctor if:

a growth on your skin is getting bigger or has changed colour or texture;
a growth or area of skin hurts, itches, bleeds, crusts or scabs for more than 4 weeks.

Tahi lalat: normal or melanoma?

Most people have moles, and they are usually nothing to worry about. According to the NHS, it is normal for new moles to appear, especially in children and teenagers, for moles to fade as you get older, and for moles to get slightly darker during pregnancy (see our guide to tanda-tanda mengandung). Moles are usually darker on brown and black skin.

The NHS says a new mole or a change in an existing mole may be a sign of melanoma. Compare your moles with these signs:

Check	Normal mole	Possible melanoma
Shape	Usually round with smooth edges	Often an uneven shape or uneven edges
Colour	Usually only 1 colour	Often a mix of 2 or more colours
Size	Usually small	Tends to be bigger, often more than 6mm wide (but can be smaller if found early)
Change	Usually does not change over time	Changes size, shape or colour

Other warning signs include a mole that is swollen and sore, bleeding, itchy or crusty. If a mole is itchy, it is worth having it checked rather than assuming it is just gatal kulit.

Melanoma on the soles, palms and nails

According to the NHS, people with black or brown skin most often get melanoma on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands, or under a nail. This type, on the hands and feet, is called acral melanoma, and Malaysian studies show why it is easy to miss:

In a study of 33 patients with acral melanoma at Sarawak General Hospital, acral melanoma made up 62.3% of malignant melanomas. The most common site was the heel (39.4%), and most patients came with an enlarging lump (60.6%) or a sore that would not heal (24.2%); only 15.2% came with an abnormal dark patch. Most cases were already at an advanced stage.
At University Malaya Medical Centre, of 24 patients with melanoma, 12 had it on the sole of the foot, and 62.5% were at stage 3 when diagnosed.
Doctors in Malaysia have reported melanomas on the foot that were first mistaken for diabetic foot ulcers, and advise a skin biopsy for any foot ulcer that looks unusual. If you have diabetes and a foot sore that is not healing or looks unusual, ask your doctor to check it.

The NHS advises seeing a doctor if you have a new or unusual mark on your skin that has not gone away after a few weeks, including on the palms or soles, or a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury.

Punca dan faktor risiko

According to the NHS, ultraviolet (UV) light is the most common cause of both non-melanoma skin cancer and melanoma. It comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds. Skin cancer is more common in older people, but younger people can also get it. You are more likely to get skin cancer if you have:

pale skin that burns easily in the sun;
red or fair hair, or blue or green eyes;
a large number of freckles or moles;
had a lot of sun exposure, and sunburn a lot in the past;
used sunbeds a lot;
a history of skin cancer in your family, or had skin cancer before.

If you have brown or black skin, the NHS says you have a lower chance of getting skin cancer, but you can still get it. The NHS also says there is no safe or healthy way to get a tan, and a tan does not protect your skin from the sun.

UV in Malaysia: why sun protection matters

The WHO says sun protection is recommended when the UV index is 3 or above. In Malaysia, readings often go much higher. In August 2026, MetMalaysia data showed the UV index in Kota Kinabalu reaching an extreme level of 11 at noon, and a reading of 12 was recorded in Petaling Jaya. On MetMalaysia's scale, 8 to 10 is very high and 11 or above is extreme.

MetMalaysia advised the public to reduce outdoor activities between 11am and 4pm, when UV tends to peak, and to use protective clothing, a hat, UV-filtering sunglasses and sunblock with an SPF of at least 30. UV can also harm the eyes: the WHO estimates that about 10% of the 15 million people blind from cataracts may be due to UV exposure (see our guide to katarak).

UV also ages the skin: the WHO lists premature skin ageing among the long-term effects of UV. For sun-related dark patches, see our guide to jeragat.

Cara cegah kanser kulit: sunscreen and more

The NHS advises spending time in the shade when the sun is strongest, covering up with suitable clothing and sunglasses, and using sunscreen. Its sunscreen advice:

Sunscreen tip	What the NHS advises
SPF	At least SPF 30 to protect against UVB
UVA protection	Choose a sunscreen that also protects against UVA (in the UK, at least 4 stars)
How much	Around 6 to 8 teaspoons for an adult covering the whole body
When	If you will be in the sun long enough to burn, apply twice: 30 minutes before going out and again just before going out
Reapply	Every 2 hours, and straight after swimming (even if it is water resistant), towel drying or sweating
Expiry	Check the open-jar symbol, which shows how many months it lasts once opened

Other NHS and WHO advice:

Do not rely on sunscreen alone. The WHO says shade and clothing protect better than sunscreen, and sunscreen should not be used to stay in the sun for longer.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat that shades the face, neck and ears, and long sleeves or long skirts in close-weave fabrics.
Wear wraparound sunglasses that block UVA and UVB.
Keep babies under 6 months out of direct strong sunlight.
Avoid sunbeds; the WHO says sunbed use increases the risk of skin cancer.

Does sunscreen work? A randomised trial of 1,621 adults in Nambour, Australia, compared daily sunscreen with using it only when people chose to. After 4.5 years, the daily sunscreen group had significantly fewer squamous cell carcinoma tumours, although there was no difference in basal cell carcinomas. Ten years after the trial ended, the daily group had 11 new melanomas compared with 22 in the other group; this difference was borderline statistically, but invasive melanomas were clearly fewer (3 vs 11). Among participants under 55, the daily group also showed 24% less skin ageing. The trial was done in Queensland, Australia, so the size of the benefit may differ in Malaysia.

If you have dry skin or dark patches, see our guides to kulit kering and jeragat for choosing a sunscreen. The WHO notes that small amounts of UV help the body make vitamin D, but artificial tanning should never be used to get enough vitamin D.

Rawatan kanser kulit

According to the NHS, non-melanoma skin cancer can usually be treated effectively, and melanoma can often be treated, especially if it is found early. Surgery is the main treatment for both.

Treatment	What it involves (NHS)
Surgery	Cutting out the cancer with some healthy skin around it; a skin graft may be needed if a large area is removed. For melanoma, nearby lymph glands may also be removed if they are affected
Cryosurgery	Freezing the affected skin, which forms a scab that drops off a few weeks later (non-melanoma)
Chemotherapy cream	For non-melanoma skin cancers that only affect the top layer of skin; usually used once or twice a day for 3 to 4 weeks
Photodynamic therapy	A light-sensitive medicine and a light source to kill cancer cells, for non-melanoma skin cancer that is not too thick
Radiotherapy	Used if the cancer covers a large area, is hard to remove with surgery, or the person is too unwell for surgery
Targeted medicines and immunotherapy	For melanoma that cannot be removed with surgery or has spread; a sample of the melanoma is usually tested first. The NHS says chemotherapy does not work as well for melanoma

If melanoma has spread to other parts of the body, the NHS says it may not be possible to cure it, and treatment aims to limit the cancer and its symptoms and help you live longer. This is why checking your skin, including your feet and nails, matters.

When to see a doctor

According to the NHS, see a doctor if:

you have a mole that has changed size, shape or colour, or is painful, itchy, inflamed, bleeding or crusty;
you have a growth on your skin that is getting bigger or has changed colour or texture;
a spot or area of skin hurts, itches, bleeds, crusts or scabs for more than 4 weeks;
you have a new or unusual mark that has not gone away after a few weeks, including on the palms or soles;
you have a dark area under a nail that has not been caused by an injury.

If the doctor thinks it could be skin cancer, they may refer you to a skin specialist (dermatologist).

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Apa tanda awal kanser kulit (early signs of skin cancer)?

According to the NHS, the main sign of non-melanoma skin cancer is a growth or unusual patch on the skin, most often on sun-exposed areas such as the face, ears, neck, hands and lower legs. The main sign of melanoma is a new mole or a change in an existing mole. See a doctor if a growth is getting bigger or changing colour or texture, or if a spot hurts, itches, bleeds, crusts or scabs for more than 4 weeks.

Tahi lalat macam mana yang bahaya (which moles could be cancer)?

The NHS says normal moles are usually round with smooth edges, only 1 colour and do not change over time. A mole may be a melanoma if it has an uneven shape or edges, a mix of 2 or more colours, is larger than 6mm wide, or changes in size, shape or colour. Also get checked if a mole is swollen, sore, bleeding, itchy or crusty, or if you have a dark area under a nail that was not caused by an injury.

Can Asians or people with brown skin get skin cancer?

Yes. The NHS says people with brown or black skin have a lower chance of skin cancer, but they can still get it. Melanoma in people with darker skin most often appears on the soles of the feet, palms of the hands or under a nail. In Malaysia, 1,881 women were diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer and 242 with melanoma from 2017 to 2021, according to the national cancer registry.

Apa punca kanser kulit (what causes skin cancer)?

Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun and from sunbeds is the most common cause, according to the NHS. Your chance is higher if you have pale skin that burns easily, a large number of freckles or moles, a lot of sun exposure or sunburn in the past, have used sunbeds a lot, or have a personal or family history of skin cancer. Skin cancer is more common in older people, but younger people can also get it.

SPF 30 or SPF 50: which sunscreen should I use?

The NHS advises a sunscreen of at least SPF 30 that also protects against UVA, and MetMalaysia has advised sunblock of at least SPF 30 on days of very high UV. Using enough matters too: the NHS says adults need around 6 to 8 teaspoons to cover the whole body, applied before going out and reapplied every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating or towel drying. Do not rely on sunscreen alone; also use shade, clothing, a hat and sunglasses.

Kanser kulit boleh sembuh (can skin cancer be cured)?

Often, especially when found early. The NHS says non-melanoma skin cancer can usually be treated effectively, and surgery is the main treatment. Melanoma can often be treated too, especially if it is found early, but if it has spread it may not be possible to cure it; treatment then aims to limit the cancer and help you live longer. In Malaysia, 63.9% of women with non-melanoma skin cancer and a recorded stage were diagnosed at stage 1.

Does sunscreen really prevent skin cancer?

Regular sunscreen helps, as part of overall sun protection. In a randomised trial of 1,621 adults in Nambour, Australia, people who applied sunscreen daily had fewer squamous cell carcinomas, and 10 years later had fewer new melanomas than those who used it only when they chose to (11 vs 22). The trial was done in Australia, so results may differ in Malaysia. The WHO says shade and clothing protect better than sunscreen alone.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

回到新闻