What does basal cell carcinoma look like?

Introduction

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common form of skin cancer, usually starts as a small bump or patch on the skin. BCCs can also look and feel like sores or ulcers that don’t heal normally.

A typical BCC on the nose - it has a pearly appearance with broken blood vessels easily visible coursing over it 

A small basal cell carcinoma - the slightly raised edge can be seen more easily on stretching the skin 

A superficial basal cell carcinoma on the back - its has a raised edge and bleeds easily on towelling the area 

Location

• BCCs can occur anywhere on the skin.
• They are most commonly seen on the face, lower legs, trunk, and chest.
• They are relatively uncommon on the hands, especially the palms, and on the soles of the feet which are not exposed to as much sun.

Colour

BCCs can be a range of different colours, including:

• Pink
• The same colour as the surrounding skin
• Pale/waxy (like scar tissue)
• Pigmented eg, pearly brown or black (more common in people with darker skin types).

A typical pearly pink basal cell carcinoma 

A pigmented basal cell carcinoma 

Size

• BCCs may range in size from a few millimetres (mm) to several centimetres (cm) across.
• They usually grow slowly over time: on average, about 1 mm every 3 months.

A small superficial-type BCC 

A large BCC on the arm - it was 6 cm in diameter 

Other features

BCCs can vary in appearance — they may have one or more of the following features:

• A central depression — where the skin spot dips down in the middle, so the edges appear raised or rolled in comparison
• Small blood vessels crossing the surface when you look up close (which may bleed very easily with minimal contact eg, when towelling dry)
• Contain soft, jelly-like material
• Be either raised or flat against the skin
• A smooth texture and shiny appearance
• A slightly rough, scaly texture.

The rough scaly appearance of a superficial BCC 

The dip in the centre of a nasal BCC 

The pearly appearance of a nodulocystic BCC 

Fine broken blood vessels crossing the surface of a BCC 

Sometimes BCCs are easy for an experienced doctor to identify by looking at them, often with the aid of a handheld magnifying tool called a dermatoscope. Other times, it is necessary to take a sample (biopsy) to help tell BCCs apart from other types of skin spots and growths. Your doctor can further discuss your options with you.

For more information about and photos of different types of BCC, see:

• Basal cell carcinoma (overview)
• What are the types of basal cell carcinoma?
• Is basal cell carcinoma deadly?