Most types of cancer come with some pretty obvious symptoms and signs, from tenderness, to discomfort, bumps and lumps, and even feeling sick. However, when it comes to detecting the symptoms of skin cancer, the signs aren’t always as obvious as you might think. Asking yourself “What does skin cancer look like?” is the first step in protecting yourself from this common disease.
Many forms of skin cancer are slow growing, and can be free from certain warning signs – which makes detection tricky. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can watch out for when it comes to skin cancer, and these indicators can let you know if a trip to the doctor is the best way forward. Keep in mind that the signs we cover below may not necessarily indicate skin cancer, but they’re worth checking out if you’re concerned.
What Does Skin Cancer Look Like, When It Is Melanoma?
Melanoma typically emerges on the skin as a new growth or spot, or a change to a pre-existing growth or mole. A typical mole will usually have an even color, quite small, and will generally appear during the early years of your life. Crucially, a normal mole will appear on your skin and stay the same – it will not change or evolve over time. If your mole changes, then it’s important to have it checked out by a professional.
What Does Skin Cancer Look Like When It Is Non Melanoma?
Although melanoma is regarded as the most dangerous type of skin cancer, it isn’t the most common. You’ll need to consider other forms of skin cancers and evaluate the different forms that they can take. Most of the time, the main sign of other skin cancers is the presence of a discolored patch of skin or lump that will not heal. The most commonly found types of skin cancer other than melanomas are squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas.
Basal Cell Carcinomas
Basal cell carcinomas generally present themselves in a range of different forms. Most often, such kind of skin cancer appears as a lump that looks pearly and waxy and with visible blood cells, a scaly or irritated area of skin that can grow to be quite large, a scar-like lesion, a bleeding open sore, or a growth with pink color and with a small indent in the center.
Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Similar, to basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas are often due to repeat UV or sun-exposure over time. This is a form of skin cancer that slowly develops and can spread to other parts of the skin though it is not usual for it to spread so wide areas of the skin. Squamous cell skin cancer can appear as warty bumps that have crusty surfaces, rough or scaly patches of skin that might bleed, open sores that develop crusts, or red dome-like bumps.
In Bowen’s disease, which is an early manifestation of squamous cell skin cancer, you might find that the cancer presents itself as an itchy or scaly patch of red skin that is frequently confused for eczema or psoriasis. It can be treated quite easily, but it can also pose a significant risk if it goes undiagnosed for a long period of time.
