Skin cancers can be bumpy and raised, while sun spots are typically completely flat and smooth. If a sun spot suddenly becomes raised, it may be a sign that it is growing or changing into a potential skin cancer.

What should I look for?

1. A new, expanding, or changing growth, spot, or bump on the skin.
2. A sore that bleeds and/or doesn't heal after several weeks.
3. A rough or scaly red patch, which might crust or bleed.
4. A wart-like growth.
5. A mole (or other spot on the skin) that's new or changing in size, shape, or color.

Here's one of the major differences: sunspots tend to crop up on areas of your skin that have had a lot of sun exposure over the years. On the other hand, melanoma - the fastest growing and most deadly form of skin cancer - can appear anywhere, even in areas with no sun exposure or limited exposure to UV rays.

Tanning is skin cells in trauma, trying to protect themselves from cancer. One damaged skin cell can start a melanoma growing. A melanoma need only be 1mm deep to spread to other parts of the body.

Any freckle, mole, or sunspot that changes in color, shape, or size is suspicious. A tan spot that becomes mixed with red, black, or pink areas needs to be checked out. A small freckle that becomes much larger or develops an irregular border should be seen by a physician.

Keep an eye on spots that look different to others on your body, spots that have changed in size, shape, colour or texture, and sores that itch, bleed, or don't heal. If you notice any of these signs, see your doctor and seek their expert opinion.

How long does it take skin cancer to appear? There's no set timeline for skin cancer growth and appearance. While some skin cancer lesions appear suddenly, others grow slowly over time. For example, the crusty, pre-cancerous spots associated with actinic keratoses can take years to develop.

It takes about 2 to 3 weeks to get the results of your biopsy. You usually go back to your GP or skin specialist (dermatologist) for these. You need treatment to the area if the skin sample contains any cancerous cells.

The majority of sun exposure occurs before age 18 and skin cancer can take 20 years or more to develop. Whether your sun bathing days are behind you or you still spend time pursuing the perfect tan, you should be concerned about skin cancer.

There's no set timeline for skin cancer growth and appearance. While some skin cancer lesions appear suddenly, others grow slowly over time. For example, the crusty, pre-cancerous spots associated with actinic keratoses can take years to develop.

Tanning - indoors or with the sun - makes your skin age more quickly. Wrinkles, age spots, and loss of skin firmness tend to appear years earlier in people who tan. Anyone who tans can also develop leathery skin, which people who never tan don't get.

around 7-10 days A natural tan will usually last for around 7-10 days, although this can vary for each different skin type and colour. However, any exposure to sun during that 7-10 day period could mean that your tan will hang around for longer, so the length of time it lasts really does depend on the individual.