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 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.

Please note: Since not all skin cancers have the same appearance, these photos serve as a general reference for what skin cancer can look like. If you see anything NEW, CHANGING or UNUSUAL on your skin, go get checked by a dermatologist.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) Photos

an open sore on the skin basal cell carcinoma
An open sore that does not heal.
basal cell carcinoma bcc
An open sore that bleeds, oozes, or crusts and remains open for a few weeks, only to heal up and then bleed again.
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
Pigmented BCC behind the ear. Photo: Hugh Gloster, MD
basal cell carcinoma bcc
A scar-like area that is white, yellow or waxy, and often has poorly defined borders.
Pigmented BCC
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 bcc
A pink growth.
basal cell carcinoma lower eyelid lash line
A subtle pearly lesion in the middle of the lower eyelid’s lash line is a BCC.
Basal cell carcinoma presenting as a pink growth. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Basal cell carcinoma presenting as an open sore on the ear. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Basal cell carcinoma on the leg. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Basal cell carcinoma on the posterior torso. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Basal cell carcinoma on the neck. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Basal cell carcinoma on the anterior torso. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Basal cell carcinoma on the anterior torso. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Basal cell carcinoma on the anterior torso. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com

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

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) Case Study

Inconvenient BCC, Good Outcome

Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD

A patient in his 50s with the genetic condition known as Gorlin syndrome had been treated for many basal cell carcinomas. During the COVID pandemic, he noticed a new bump on his upper lip. It didn’t seem serious to him, so, like many patients during that time, he did not see his dermatologist. When he finally did get checked, it was indeed a BCC and had grown deep enough to require several stages of Mohs surgery. The surgery eliminated the cancer but left the lower part of his face disfigured (top photo). Dr. Sarnoff’s business partner and husband, plastic surgeon Robert H. Gotkin, MD, was able to reconstruct the area with minimal scarring and an excellent cosmetic result (bottom photo, after healing).

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).
Squamous cell carcinoma on the nose. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Squamous cell carcinoma on the head. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Squamous cell carcinoma on the neck. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Squamous cell carcinoma .Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Squamous cell carcinoma.Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
Squamous cell carcinoma on the head. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com

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

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Case Study

A Large Squamous Cell Carcinoma 

Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD 

Before being admitted to an assisted living facility, an elderly widow was required to have a thorough physical. The doctor (and her adult children who had not seen her undressed in years), were shocked to see a large, raised open wound on her left shoulder and back. For years, she had been covering it and hiding it under clothes. She didn’t want to rock the boat or make a fuss. The lesion (top photo) turned out to be a large SCC, the second most common type of skin cancer. The tumor required extensive surgery followed by radiation. The patient was extremely lucky: Her cancer was eliminated, and Dr. Sarnoff’s business partner and husband Robert H. Gotkin, MD, expertly closed the wound (bottom photo). Dr. Sarnoff strongly advocates robust treatment for elderly people with skin cancer. The earlier it is diagnosed, the less onerous the treatment, and it can make a huge difference in a person’s quality of life. 

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.
stage 1a melanoma
Stage IA melanoma.
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
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.
acral lentiginous melanoma
Acral lentiginous melanoma.
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
Picture of melanoma skin cancer
Dark melanoma, 4 mms. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
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.
acral lentiginous melanoma
Acral lentiginous melanoma.
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
Picture of melanoma skin cancer
Dark melanoma, 4 mms. Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration at isic-archive.com
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
Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration
Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration
Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration
Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration
Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration
Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration
Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration
Nodular melanoma on the leg of a Native American woman.
Photo: International Skin Imaging Collaboration

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

Melanoma Case Study

Not a “Boil” but an Advanced Melanoma  

Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD 

The power of denial can be strong. This man believed the large, dark growth on his back was a boil, despite oozing and bleeding for months. He kept bandaging it and thought it was just slow to heal. When he was finally referred to Dr. Sarnoff, a biopsy and other tests revealed a melanoma so large and deep that it had already spread to the man’s liver and brain. He was referred to an oncologist and began an immunotherapy regimen that did not appear to be working, which happens with some patients. (Thanks to recent innovations, there may be other treatment options, including participation in a clinical trial.) This is a powerful reminder of the importance of early detection.  

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. Photos: Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD
Merkel cell carcinomas
Merkel cell carcinoma on forehead and arm. Photos: Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD
merkel cell carcinoma on the lower leg
Merkel cell carcinoma on the lower leg. Photos: Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD
Merkel cell carcinoma
Bump on leg that turned out to be merkel cell carcinoma. Photos: Paul Nghiem, MD, PhD

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:

  • Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM)
  • Cutaneous lymphoma
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)
  • Kaposi’s sarcoma
  • Microcystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC)
  • Sebaceous carcinoma
  • Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
  • Extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD)

For links to more comprehensive skin cancer information, visit our Skin Cancer 101 page.

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Last updated: September 2024

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