Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Symptoms

Skin cancer, including basal and squamous cell skin cancers, often don't cause bothersome symptoms until they have grown quite large. Then, skin cancer symptoms may include itching, bleeding, or even pain. But if you know what to look for, you can spot signs of skin cancer when it’s still small and easier to treat.

Skin cancer signs and symptoms

Not all skin cancers look the same. In fact, skin cancers can show up in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes they might even look like other non-cancerous skin conditions. It’s important to check your skin regularly and ask your doctor about any of the following signs of skin cancer:

• A new, expanding, or changing growth, spot, or bump on the skin
• A sore that bleeds and/or doesn’t heal after several weeks
• A rough or scaly red patch, which might crust or bleed
• A wart-like growth
• A mole (or other spot on the skin) that’s new or changing in size, shape, or color
• A mole with an odd shape, irregular borders, or areas of different colors

Signs and symptoms of basal cell skin cancer

Basal cell cancers (BCCs) usually develop on areas exposed to the sun, especially the face, head, neck, and arms, but they can occur anywhere on the body.

In people with lighter-colored skin, basal cell skin cancer can appear as:

• Small, pink or red, translucent, shiny, pearly bumps, which might have blue, brown, or black areas
• Pink growths with raised edges and a lower area in their center, which might contain abnormal blood vessels spreading out like the spokes of a wheel
• Flat, firm, pale or yellow areas, similar to a scar
• Raised reddish patches that might be itchy
• Open sores (which may have oozing or crusted areas) that don’t heal, or that heal and then come back

BCCs are less common in people with darker skin color. When they do occur, they often have many of the same features (such as being translucent or shiny, or having raised edges), although they are often darker in color.

Basal cell cancers are often fragile and might bleed after shaving or after a minor injury. If you have a sore or cut that is taking longer than a week or so to heal, check with your doctor, because it could be a sign of basal cell skin cancer.

Signs and symptoms of squamous cell skin cancer

In people with lighter-colored skin, squamous cell cancers (SCCs) tend to occur on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ear, neck, lip, and back of the hands. These cancers are less common in people with darker skin color, in whom they’re more likely to appear in areas that aren’t often exposed to the sun.

Less often, SCCs can form in the skin of the genital area. They can also develop in scars or skin sores elsewhere.

These cancers can appear as:

• Rough or scaly red (or darker) patches, which might crust or bleed
• Raised growths or lumps, sometimes with a lower area in the center
• Open sores (which may have oozing or crusted areas) that don’t heal, or that heal and then come back
• Wart-like growths

Other ways basal and squamous cell carcinomas can look

Both basal and squamous cell skin cancers can also develop as a flat area showing only slight changes from normal skin.

These and other types of skin cancers can also look different from the descriptions above. This is why it’s important to have a doctor check any new or changing skin growths, sores that don’t heal, or other areas that concern you.