Skin Cancer Pictures

What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?

Skin cancer can happen to anyone, at any age, on any part of the body. And because skin cancers appear in many shapes and sizes, they can be challenging to identify. While skin cancer pictures can be helpful in learning what skin cancer can look like, getting to know your own skin and understanding what to look for can help you detect cancer early when it’s easiest to cure.

That’s why you should examine your skin once a month. If you see something NEW, CHANGING OR UNUSUAL – even if it looks nothing like what you see in photos – do not wait! Get it checked by a dermatologist right away. Finding and treating skin cancer early can save your life.

Skin Cancer Image Gallery

What does cancer look like on the skin? Below is a selection of photos that give you a general idea about what skin cancers can look like. Remember that skin cancers can look quite different from one person to another due to skin tone, size and type of skin cancer and location on the body. Skin cancer can be tricky in other ways, too. For example, melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is often pigmented tan, brown, black, even blue. But amelanotic melanoma lacks pigment and appears as a skin-tone or pink lesion.

To sum it up, while photos can be helpful, getting your skin examined by a dermatologist is the most vital step in identifying and treating skin cancer.

Basal Cell Carcinoma Photos
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Photos
Melanoma Photos
Merkel Cell Carcinoma Photos
Actinic Keratosis
Rare Skin Cancers

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) Photos

an open sore on the skin basal cell carcinoma — An open sore that does not heal

picture basal cell carcinoma on man's left eyebrow — A reddish patch or irritated area

picture shiny bump on woman's face — A shiny bump or nodule

picture white scar man forehead basal cell carcinoma — White, yellow or waxy scar

A basal cell carcinoma may be pigmented, like this one, on skin of color. — A basal cell carcinoma may be pigmented on skin of color. *Photo: Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH*

BCC on nose of Latino male — BCC on the nose.

pink growth bcc — A small pink growth with a slightly raised, rolled edge and a crusted indentation in the center

basal cell carcinoma woman's face — A shiny bump or nodule

Pigmented BCC behind the ear. *Photo: Hugh Gloster, MD*

Pigmented BCC. *Photo credit: Hugh Gloster, MD*

BCC on the nose of an Asian man — BCC on the nose. *Photo: Hugh Gloster, MD*

basal cell carcinoma lower eyelid lash line — A subtle pearly lesion in the middle of the lower eyelid’s lash line is a BCC.

For information on basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms, visit our BCC Warning Signs page.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Images

Squamous cell carcinoma scaly patch — A persistent, scaly red patch with irregular borders that sometimes crusts or bleeds.

squamous cell carcinoma on lip — An elevated growth with a central depression that occasionally bleeds. It may rapidly increase in size.

Une plaie ouverte qui saigne, forme des croûtes et persiste depuis plusieurs semaines. — An open sore that bleeds and crusts and persists for weeks.

crusty spot eye squamous cell carcinoma — This crusty spot near the eye was diagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

wart-like growth squamous cell carcinoma on ear — A wart-like growth that crusts and occasionally bleeds.

cutaneous horn squamous cell carcinoma lower eyelid — This horn-shaped growth on the lower eyelid, known as a cutaneous horn, is an SCC.

Picture open sore man left ear — An open sore that bleeds or crusts and persists for weeks.

Patch on man hand squamous cell carcinoma — A persistent, scaly red patch with irregular borders that sometimes crusts or bleeds.

squamous cell carcinoma on the scalp of a Black man — Squamous cell carcinoma on the scalp. *Photo: Hugh Gloster, MD*

Picture of a large squamous cell carcinoma — Large squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)

For information on squamous cell carcinoma signs and symptoms, visit our SCC Warning Signs page.

Melanoma Photos

Picture of mole with asymmetry, melanoma warning sign — Asymmetrical melanoma

Picture mole with irregular border — The borders of an early melanoma tend to be uneven. The edges may be scalloped or notched.

melanoma picture mole unconventional color — Having a mole with a variety of colors is a melanoma warning sign

picture uncommon large mole — Melanomas usually are larger in diameter but may be smaller when first detected

subungal melanoma — Subungual melanoma under the nail

evolving melanoma — Melanoma evolved and grew outward, upward and inward in a matter of months.

acral lentiginous melanoma — Acral lentiginous melanoma

Nodular melanoma 1.3mm on upper back. *Photo: Elizabeth K. Hale, MD*

Superficial melanoma 0.55mm Upper Arm — Superficial melanoma 0.55mm on upper arm. *Photo: Elizabeth K. Hale, MD*

An example of a flat, amelanotic, superficial spreading melanoma on the leg. — Amelanotic melanomas may be pinkish-looking, reddish, purple, normal skin color or essentially clear and colorless

A nodular melanoma developing within an amelanotic melanoma in situ on the scalp. — Amelanotic melanoma

Picture of melanoma skin cancer — Dark melanoma, 4 mms. *Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com*

Melanoma, 1.3mm, right posterior shoulder. Photo: Sarah Gee, MD — Melanoma, 1.3mm, right posterior shoulder. *Photo: Sarah Gee, MD*

melanoma in situ 1 cm on the right calf — Melanoma in situ 1 cm on the right calf *Photo: Jane Yoo, MD*

For information on melanoma signs and symptoms, visit our Melanoma Warning Signs page.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) Pictures

Picture merkel cell carcinoma on woman's left eyelid — Merkel cell carcinoma on woman's left eyelid. *Photos: Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD*

merkel cell carcinoma on arm — Merkel cell carcinoma on the arm

Merkel cell carcinomas — Merkel cell carcinoma on forehead and arm

merkel cell carcinoma on the lower leg — Merkel cell carcinoma on the lower leg

For information on Merkel cell carcinoma signs and symptoms, visit our MCC Warning Signs page.

Actinic Keratosis

Actinic keratosis (also known as solar keratosis) is the most common precancer. For more photos and information on actinic keratosis warning signs and symptoms, visit our Actinic Keratosis Warning Signs page.

Rare Skin Cancers

Please visit our Rare skin cancers page for more information and pictures of rare skin cancers such as:

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)
Kaposi’s sarcoma
Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC)
Sebaceous carcinoma
Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD)