[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/02\/skin-cancer-appearance\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/02\/skin-cancer-appearance\/","headline":"What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?","name":"What Does Skin Cancer Look Like?","description":"<p><\/p>","datePublished":"2026-02-06","dateModified":"2026-02-04","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","name":"UPMC Hillman Cancer Center","url":"https:\/\/hillman.upmc.com\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-hillman-cancer-center\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-466938386-1-e1770233807830.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-466938386-1-e1770233807830.jpg","height":866,"width":2000},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2026\/02\/skin-cancer-appearance\/","about":["Cancer Care","Health Topics A-Z","Skin Care"],"wordCount":1268,"articleBody":"Although skin cancer often doesn\u2019t get the same attention as other cancers, don\u2019t let this fool you into thinking it isn\u2019t a big deal. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.If found early, most people survive skin cancer.Read on for answers to common questions about skin cancer, such as \u201cWhat does early skin cancer look like?\u201d \u201cWhere are you most likely to find it?\u201d and \u201cDoes skin cancer itch?\u201dWhat Does Skin Cancer Look Like?Skin cancer can look \u2014 and feel \u2014 different, depending on the type of skin cancer you have. For instance, Merkel cell carcinoma \u2014 a very rare type \u2014 often\u00a0appears as a single, painless lump.Basal cell carcinomaBasal cell cancer is the most common skin cancer. In people with light-colored skin, it may look like:Bumps that are small, pink, or red. They look translucent, shiny, or pearly, with blue, brown, or black areas.Open sores, which may ooze or crust. They don\u2019t heal, or they heal and then come back.Pink growths with raised edges. A sunken middle may have blood vessels that fan out like spokes of a wheel.Raised red patches that may itch.Scar-like areas, which are firm, flat, and pale or yellow in color.These skin tumors are often fragile. They may bleed if you shave or scratch them.\u00a0In people of color, basal cell carcinoma looks the same, only darker.Basal cell cancer can develop anywhere on your body. But most often, they\u2019re found on sun-exposed areas, such as your face, head, neck, and arms.Squamous cell cancerSquamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of skin cancer. But it\u2019s the most common skin cancer in Black people.Squamous cell carcinoma may look like:Raised growths or lumps. Sometimes, the center has sunk in.Rough, scaly red or darker patches, which may bleed or crust.Open sores, which may ooze or crust. They don\u2019t heal, or they may heal and then come back.Wart-like growths.This type tends to occur on sun-exposed areas of the face, ears, lips, neck, and the back of the hands. Sometimes, it can start in the genital area or in scars or sores elsewhere on the body.MelanomaThe most serious type of skin cancer, melanoma can grow and spread quickly deep into the skin, where it can travel to other organs. But when found early, the five-year survival rate is 99%, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF).To spot melanoma, follow the ABCDE rule:Asymmetry \u2014 Melanoma growths lack symmetry. Look for growths or moles with odd shapes or sides that don\u2019t match.Border \u2014 Melanoma growths often lack smooth edges or borders. Look for growths and moles with notched edges, uneven edges, or scalloped edges, like a clamshell.Color \u2014 Melanomas may have shades of black, brown, and tan or white, red, and blue. Some are colorless. Look for moles or growths that are more than one color or have different shades of a single color, change color as they get larger, or get darker.Diameter \u2014 Melanomas are often at least 6 millimeters in diameter, or larger than the size of a pencil\u2019s eraser.Evolving \u2014 This means any growth or skin that changes or looks different from the rest of the spots on your body. Look for moles or growths that are changing color, crusting over or bleeding, getting bigger, spreading out, growing higher on the skin\u2019s surface,\u00a0or itching.How Skin Cancer Looks Different for People of ColorAlthough it\u2019s most common in non-Hispanic white people, anyone can develop skin cancer.In people of color, the melanin in their skin gives them some protection from the sun\u2019s damaging ultraviolet rays. But they\u2019re still at risk \u2014 and often face a higher risk of death from skin cancer. The reason: Skin cancer diagnoses often happen in later stages for people of color, when it\u2019s harder to treat.Late-stage melanoma diagnoses are more common among Black and Hispanic people than white people. In Black people, the estimated five-year survival rate for melanoma is 70% compared to 94% for white people, according to the SCF.In people of color, skin cancer often shows up on skin without sun exposure. The soles of the feet are the most common site. Other common areas include:Fingernails and toenails.Groin and genital areas.Inside the mouth or nose.Palms of hands.How to Tell if You Have Skin CancerOne in five people will get skin cancer by age 70, the SCF estimates. Knowing what skin cancer looks like only helps if you look for it. That\u2019s where skin cancer screening comes in.Health experts recommend monthly self-exams, in the nude, to look for new growths or skin changes. Remove any nail polish first and use a full-length mirror and a handheld mirror to check for areas you can\u2019t see.You should:Bend your elbows and look at your forearms, underarms, palms, and fingernails.Check your back, buttocks, and genital area.Inspect the back of your head and neck. Part your hair to look at your scalp.Lift your breasts to look at the skin beneath.Look at the front and back of your body.Look at the front and back of your legs and feet, the soles of your feet, between your toes, and your toenails.Raise and inspect the right side and left side of your arms.If you have a history of skin cancer or other risk factors, your doctor may also screen you during regular checkups.When to See a DoctorYou should see a doctor if you have any of the above skin cancer signs or:A sore that takes longer than a week to heal or that heals and then comes back.Any mole that is much darker or looks much different than other moles on your skin.Any mole or growth whose diameter, or circular size, is larger than a pencil\u2019s eraser.Any new growth, sore, or bump that changes in color, shape, or size.The only way to know if you have skin cancer is through a biopsy or sample your doctor takes of your skin tissue. A lab analysis will determine whether you have skin cancer and, if so, what type. With that information, your skin cancer care team can tailor a treatment plan to remove your skin cancer and keep you cancer-free.SourcesAmerican Cancer Society. Skin Cancer. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/skin-cancer.html. Cancer.orgAmerican Cancer Society. Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer\/detection-diagnosis-staging.html. Cancer.orgAmerican Cancer Society. Can Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers Be Found Early? Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer\/detection-diagnosis-staging\/detection.html. Cancer.org American Cancer Society. Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Symptoms. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/types\/basal-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer\/detection-diagnosis-staging\/signs-and-symptoms.html. Cancer.orgAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association. What to Look for: ABCDEs of Melanoma. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.aad.org\/public\/diseases\/skin-cancer\/find\/at-risk\/abcdes. AAD.orgSkin Cancer Foundation. Skin Cancer Facts &amp; Statistics. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/skin-cancer-information\/skin-cancer-facts\/ SkinCancer.orgSkin Cancer Foundation. Early Detection: Overview. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/early-detection. SkinCancer.org Skin Cancer Foundation. Self-Exams Save Lives. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.skincancer.org\/early-detection\/self-exams. SkinCancer.orgAmerican Academy of Dermatology Association. Find Skin Cancer: How to Perform a Skin Self Exam. Accessed October 2025. https:\/\/www.aad.org\/public\/diseases\/skin-cancer\/find\/check-skin. 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