What does squamous cell carcinoma look like?

Introduction

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most common form of skin cancer, usually looks like a scaly or crusty lump that enlarges over time. It can also look like an open sore (ulcer) that isn’t healing.

Location

• SCCs can occur anywhere on the skin.
• In people with pale skin, they are most commonly seen on the face, lips, ears, hands, forearms, and lower legs — areas of skin that are often exposed to more sun.
• They can also arise in other parts of the body including the mouth, the genital area, and even the bottom of the feet.
• People with brown or black skin who get SCC are more likely to develop it in areas of skin that are protected from the sun.

A squamous cell carcinoma on the nose 

An ulcerated squamous cell carcinoma in the ear 

A firm ulcerated squamous cell carcinoma on the lower lip 

An ulcerated squamous cell carcinoma on the foot 

Colour

SCCs can be a range of different colours, including:

• The same colour as the surrounding skin (common)
• Pink or red
• Purple, grey, brown, or black (especially in people with darker skin types).

Size

SCCs may range in size from a few millimetres (mm) to several centimetres (cm) across. They usually grow quite quickly, over weeks to months.

A small SCC on the arm 

A large ulcerated SCC on the cheek 

Other features

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

• A cutaneous horn — a thick, tough spike (‘horn’) sticking out from the skin, made from keratin (the protein in skin, hair, and nails)
• A thickened or wart-like texture
• Be prone to bleeding easily
• Grow within a pre-existing sun spot or ulcer.

A warty nodule due to a small SCC 

A SCC has arisen within an existing longstanding scar - note the raised heaped up edge 

A bleeding eroded SCC on the ear - again note the heaped up edge 

A cutaneous horn due to an underlying SCC 

An ulcerated SCC that has arisen in a longstanding burn scar 

For more information about SCC, see:

• Squamous cell carcinoma (overview)
• Is squamous cell carcinoma deadly?