Globally, cutaneous cancers are among the most common form of cancer. Among 
Africans, there are significant differences in the types of skin cancer compared 
to those documented in patients from other countries. We evaluated all the 
patients with a histological diagnosis of skin cancer presenting to the 
University of Calabar Teaching Hospital from January 2005 through December 2006. 
Twenty-nine patients (18 males and 11 females) with skin cancer were identified 
and these accounted for 8.0 percent of total malignancies. Their ages ranged 
from 16 to 70 years (mean 43.5 years). Kaposi sarcoma (KS) was the most common 
skin cancer. Kaposi sarcoma associated with HIV represented 81.8 percent of KS 
cases found. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) ranked second and malignant melanoma 
third. Of the skin cancers in our series, the most common site was the lower 
limb (55.2%), followed by the head and neck (24%). The 4 albinos accounted for 
13.8 percent of the skin cancers found. Immunosuppression (KS), chronic ulcer, 
inflammation, albinism, and solar radiation were identified risk factors. Public 
education strategies on prevention, with an emphasis on early identification and 
surgical treatment of skin cancers are urged. In addition, treatment of and 
close observation of chronic ulcers are recommended.