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Skin cancer types: Basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms


What are the signs and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma?

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a type of skin cancer that can show up on the skin in many ways. Sometimes, it can be mistaken for a harmless pimple, scar, or sore. Most basal cell carcinoma's grow slowly.

A common sign of basal cell carcinoma

This skin cancer often develops on the head or neck and looks like a shiny, raised, and round growth.

Reddish, round basal cell carcinoma on patient’s nose

To help you spot basal cell carcinoma before it grows deep into your skin, dermatologists share these 7 warning signs that could be easily missed.

If you find any of the following signs on your skin, see a board-certified dermatologist. Board-certified dermatologists know how to tell the difference between something small and something major.

7 warning signs of basal cell carcinoma that you could mistake as harmless

  1. Warning sign: A pink or reddish growth that dips in the center
    Can be mistaken for: A skin injury or acne scar

    A pink or reddish growth that dips in the center

    The basal cell carcinoma on this patient’s cheek could be mistaken for a minor skin injury.

    Reddish basal cell carcinoma on patient’s face

  2. Warning sign: A growth or scaly area of skin on or near the ear
    Can be mistaken for: Scaly and dry skin, a minor injury, or a scar

    A growth or scaly area of skin on or near the ear

    Basal cell carcinoma often develops on or near an ear. Both the basal cell carcinoma next to a Black woman's ear and the one (circled in purple) next to a white man's ear could be mistaken for a minor skin injury.

    Basal cell carcinoma on Black woman’s face (left) and scaly, basal cell carcinoma next to patient’s ear (right)

  3. Warning sign: A sore that doesn't heal (or heals and returns) and may bleed, ooze, or crust over
    Can be mistaken for: A sore or pimple

    A sore that doesn't heal, or heals and returns

    This patient mistook the basal cell carcinoma on his nose for a non-healing pimple.

    Basal cell carcinoma on nose that patient mistook for acne

  4. Warning sign: A scaly, slightly raised patch of irritated skin, which could be red, pink, or another color
    Can be mistaken for: Dry, irritated skin, especially if it's red or pink

    A scaly, slightly raised area of irritated skin

    This basal cell carcinoma could be mistaken for an area of dry, irritated skin.

    Red, scaly basal cell carcinoma on forehead above the nose

  5. Warning sign: A round growth that may be pink, red, brown, black, tan, or the same color as your skin
    Can be mistaken for: A mole, wart, or other harmless growth

    A round growth that may be same color as your skin

    Would you recognize this as a skin cancer, or would you dismiss it as a harmless growth on your face?

    Round, raised basal cell carcinoma is the same color as the patient’s skin

  6. Warning sign: A spot on the skin that feels a bit scaly
    Could be mistaken for: Age spot or freckle

    A spot on the skin that feels a bit scaly or looks like an age spot

    This basal cell carcinoma could easily be mistaken for an age spot, which is why it’s so important to have a dermatologist examine your skin before you treat an age spot.

    Basal cell carcinoma that looks like an age spot

  7. Warning sign: A scar-like mark on your skin that may be white, yellow, or skin-colored and waxy. The affected skin may look shiny, and the surrounding skin often feels tight.
    Could be mistaken for: A scar

    A scar-like mark on your skin that may be skin-colored or waxy

    Appearing on an elderly woman’s skin, this basal cell carcinoma could easily have been mistaken for a scar.

    Waxy-feeling basal cell carcinoma that looks like a scar

More pictures of basal cell carcinoma

While the above pictures show you some common ways that basal cell carcinoma can appear on the skin, this skin cancer can show up in other ways, as the following pictures illustrate.

Scaly patch with an area of normal-looking skin

On the trunk, basal cell carcinoma may look like a scaly patch with a spot of normal-looking skin in the center and a slightly raised border, as shown here.

Brown basal cell carcinoma with area of normal-looking skin in the center

Basal cell carcinoma can be lighter in some areas and darker in others

While basal cell carcinoma tends to be one color, it can be lighter in some areas and darker in others, as shown here.

Brown and pink basal cell carcinoma with jagged border on Black woman’s skin (left) and brownish red basal cell carcinoma with jagged border (right)

Basal cell carcinoma can be brown

Most basal cell carcinoma are red or pink; however, this skin cancer can be brown, black, blue, gray, the same color as your skin, white, or yellowish.

Brown, raised, lumpy, and round basal cell carcinoma on nose

Basal cell carcinoma can look like a group of shiny bumps

Basal cell carcinoma can look like a group of small, shiny bumps that feel smooth to the touch.

Shiny, pinkish basal cell carcinoma that looks like a skin injury

Basal cell carcinoma can look like a wart or a sore

The basal cell carcinoma on this patient’s lower eyelid looks like a wart (spot just below the eyelid marked with an ⁕) in one area and a sore (area on the eyelid marked with two ⁕⁕) in another area.

Two basal cell carcinomas on lower eyelid

What color is basal cell carcinoma?

This skin cancer tends to be one color, but the color can vary from one basal cell carcinoma to the next. This cancer may be:

  • Red or pink (most common)

  • Brown, black, blue, gray, or show flecks of these colors

  • The same color as your skin

  • Yellowish

  • White

Does basal cell carcinoma hurt?

For many people, the only sign of this skin cancer is a slow-growing bump, sore-like growth, or rough-feeling area on their skin. However, some people develop symptoms where they have this skin cancer.

Symptoms include:

  • Numbness

  • A pins-and-needles sensation

  • Extreme sensitivity

  • Itching

How do people find basal cell carcinoma on their skin?

Many people find it when they notice a spot, lump, or scaly area on their skin that is growing or feels different from the rest of their skin. If you notice any spot on your skin that is growing, bleeding, or changing in any way, see a board-certified dermatologist. These doctors have the most training and experience in diagnosing skin cancer.

To find skin cancer early, dermatologists recommend that everyone check their own skin with a skin self-exam. This is especially important for people who have a higher risk of developing basal cell carcinoma.

You’ll find out what can increase your risk of getting this skin cancer at, Basal cell carcinoma: Who gets and causes.


Images (in order of appearance) used with permission of:

  • The American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

  • J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80:303-17.

  • J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;55:741-60.

  • J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55:741-60.

  • DermNet NZ

  • J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;55:741-60.

  • JAAD Case Rep. 2018; Jun 23;4(6):599-601.

  • J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80:303-17.

  • JAAD Case Rep. 2018; Jun 23;4(6):599-601.

  • The American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

  • J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;55:741-60.

  • J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80:303-17.

  • The American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

  • The American Academy of Dermatology National Library of Dermatologic Teaching Slides.

  • J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80:303-17.

  • DermNet NZ

References
Cameron MC, Lee E, et al. “Basal cell carcinoma: Epidemiology; pathophysiology; clinical and histological subtypes; and disease associations.” J Am Acad Dermatol 2019;80:303-17.

Nouri K, Ballard CJ, et al. “Basal cell carcinoma.” In: Nouri K, et al. Skin Cancer. McGraw Hill Medical, China, 2008: 61-81.


Written by:
Paula Ludmann, MS

Reviewed by:
Carrie L. Kovarik, MD, FAAD
Natalie H. Matthews, MD, FAAD
Darrell S. Rigel, MD, FAAD

Last updated: 4/28/23

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