Skin cancer cell. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a melanoma cancer cell. This cancer arises from the skin's melanocytes, the cells that produce the pigment (melanin) that give skin its colour. Melanoma is an aggressive cancer that often spreads (metastasises) to other tissues of the body. The long cell process seen here help the cell to move. Once the cancer has spread the prognosis is poor. The main cause of melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet radiation in sunlight.