What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?

What does skin cancer look like? If you can't answer this question, you need to learn how to spot a potentially cancerous growth. Some lesions develop slowly while others suddenly appear, but in either case, if caught early, treatment for skin cancer is more likely to be successful.

The appearance of a growth depends on each type of cancer. Here's what you should look for to spot the three most common types.

Melanoma
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, with the highest fatality rate. Most often melanomas occur on the trunk, head or neck, but they can develop anywhere. Possible signs of melanoma include:

• An otherwise unsuspecting mole that bleeds or changes in size, color or feel
• A small lesion found on your trunk or limbs that has an irregular border along with red, white, blue or blue-black spots
• Dome-shaped bumps that are shiny and firm
• A large brown-colored spot that has dark speckles inside
• Dark lesions found on your fingertips, palms, toes, soles or on the mucous membranes that line your vagina, anus, mouth or nose

Basal Cell Carcinoma
The most common type of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma is the easiest to treat and the least likely to spread. Potential red flags include:

• A flesh-colored or brown flat, scar-like area on your chest or back
• A waxy or pearly bump found on your neck, face or ears

Squamous Cell Carcinoma
While early cancer treatment helps increase all cancer odds, squamous cell carcinoma responds especially well to early treatment. Signs of potential problems include:

• A lesion that's flat with a crusted or scaly surface found on your ears, neck, face, arms or hands
• A nodule that's firm and red found on your lips, ears, neck, face, arms or hands

Less Common Skin Cancers
While it's rare for people to see the following abnormalities, it's still a good idea to know that they are, if seen, red flags that deserve to be looked at by a medical professional.

• Red or purple patches on the skin
• Shiny and firm red, pink or blue nodules that are found just beneath the surface of the skin and in hair follicles
• Hard painless nodules, often found on the eyelid, but possible anywhere