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.
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
Warning sign: A pink or reddish growth that dips in the center
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.
Warning sign: A growth or scaly area of skin on or near the ear
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.
Warning sign: A sore that doesn't heal (or heals and returns) and may bleed, ooze, or crust over
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.
Warning sign: A scaly, slightly raised patch of irritated skin, which could be red, pink, or another color
A scaly, slightly raised area of irritated skin
This basal cell carcinoma could be mistaken for an area of dry, irritated skin.
Warning sign: A round growth that may be pink, red, brown, black, tan, or the same color as your skin
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?
Warning sign: A spot on the skin that feels a bit scaly
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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