Skin cancer can look quite different depending on the type, but there are common visual signs to watch for: Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC):
- Often appears as a raised, shiny, translucent, pearly bump that may be pink, red, or flesh-colored.
- It can have a lower area in the center and sometimes blue, brown, or black spots.
- May bleed after minor injury and sometimes ulcerate (break down) or crust over.
- Can also appear as a red, irritated patch that itches or crusts but usually does not hurt.
- Sometimes looks like a scar-like, white, yellow, or waxy area with poorly defined edges.
- More common on sun-exposed areas like the face, neck, ears, and hands
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC):
- Often appears as a thick, scaly, red, crusted, or crusty spot or lump.
- May look like a sore that does not heal, can be itchy, bleed, or be tender to touch.
- Usually found on sun-exposed areas such as scalp, ears, neck, hands, forearms, and lower legs.
- Can grow relatively quickly over weeks or months
Melanoma:
- Typically pigmented, showing colors such as tan, brown, black, or even blue.
- Amelanotic melanoma lacks pigment and can appear as a skin-colored or pinkish lesion, making it harder to identify.
- Melanomas often look like irregular moles or new spots that change in size, shape, or color
Merkel Cell Carcinoma:
- Rare and aggressive, appearing as a flesh-colored or bluish-red dome-like nodule.
- Usually grows rapidly and may be mistaken for a cyst or stye.
- Common on sun-exposed skin like face, head, neck, or arms
General Signs to Watch For:
- A spot or sore that doesn't heal within 4 weeks.
- A spot that bleeds, itches, crusts, or scabs repeatedly.
- New growths or changes in existing moles or spots.
- Any lesion that looks different from others on your skin
In summary, skin cancer can look like shiny bumps, scaly patches, sores that don't heal, or pigmented irregular spots. If you notice any suspicious changes or persistent skin lesions, it is important to have them evaluated by a healthcare professional promptly.
