Skin cancer is a non-communicable disease which means it is not contagious. The scientific defintion is a malignant neoplasm of the skin...this also means that skin cancer is when cancer (malignant) cells are found on the outer layer of you skin. Your skin protects your body against heat, light, etc. So, as you can see, your skin is a necessity which is one of many reasons it is very important to keep it safe and out of the sun.