What does basal cell carcinoma look like and where might it arise?

At first, basal cell carcinoma (basal cell cancer) typically looks like a shiny, slightly see-through lump with a surface similar to candle wax. There may be smaller shiny bumps around the edge of it. On lighter skin, you can sometimes see blood vessels beneath the uppermost layer. But basal cell carcinoma can also be dark (pigmented), or it might look like a pale scar. Then it’s more difficult to recognize that it's cancer. In people with dark or very dark skin, the bumps are often brown or dark in color, and it might be harder to see the bumpy, raised edges.

If there is a sunken area in the center of it and the area is moist and sore, an ulcer or wound has developed. This is a sign that the cancer is growing. Then the wound typically doesn't heal – not even after a few weeks – or it keeps healing and then starts bleeding again.

Non-melanoma skin cancer might look like this on light skin:

Non-melanoma skin cancer might look like this on dark skin:

Other forms of basal cell carcinoma lead to a clearly defined, shiny, reddish or pink scaly area of skin.

Basal cell carcinoma usually arises on areas of skin that have been exposed to a lot of sun, such as the face and back of the neck. Much more rarely, it is also found on the torso or legs, or even on the soles of your feet, palms of your hands, chest, in your armpits or genital area.

What does squamous cell carcinoma look like?

It is not easy to identify squamous cell carcinoma or tell it apart from basal cell carcinoma. It may look like a scaly, red or brownish-yellow patch of skin – or a scabby or crusted sore that bleeds from time to time. The affected area is usually very sensitive to touch and often has hard, thick skin on it as well. In people with very dark skin, squamous cell carcinoma is often darker in color, while the skin around it looks a lot lighter or blotchy.

Squamous cell carcinoma can develop inside a scar or chronic wound, but also in healthy skin. It is often found on the edge of the ears or on the face, including the lips.

In people with light skin, it mainly develops on areas of the body that are frequently exposed to sunlight, like the head and neck area. In people with dark or very dark skin, it more commonly affects areas that are usually covered by clothing, such as the legs and genital area.

Sources

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF), Deutsche Krebsgesellschaft (DKG), Deutsche Krebshilfe (DKH). S3-Leitlinie Prävention von Hautkrebs. AWMF-Registernr.: 032-052OL. 2021.
• Bendick C. Besonderheiten der nichtweißen Haut. In: Braun-Falco's Dermatologie, Venerologie und Allergologie. Berlin: Springer; 2017.
• Dadzie OE, Petit A, Alexis AF. Ethnic Dermatology: Principles and Practice. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell; 2013.
• Gloster HM, Neal K. Skin cancer in skin of color. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006; 55(5): 741-760; quiz 761-744. [PubMed: 17052479]
• Hogue L, Harvey VM. Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and Cutaneous Melanoma in Skin of Color Patients. Dermatol Clin 2019; 37(4): 519-526. [PubMed: 31466591]

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