Understanding Skin Cancer: Symptoms

Written by Matt McMillen
Medically Reviewed by Zilpah Sheikh, MD on May 05, 2025
10 min read

The symptoms of skin cancer can be subtle, meaning you may not notice that there’s anything wrong, at least at first. Over time, that changes, and the symptoms become more clear.

“The symptoms of skin cancer become more obvious the longer the skin cancer has time to develop,” says Philip Scumpia, MD, a clinical dermatologist and dermatopathologist at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles.

The timeline, says Scumpia, can depend on the type of skin cancer that you have.

“Some skin cancers, like melanoma, may grow and change rapidly, while others like basal cell carcinoma, may take months to years to change,” he explains.

Diagnosing skin cancer early is critical. Not only does early skin cancer require less invasive treatment, it also has the highest chance of getting rid of the cancer before it spreads to other parts of your body. When the cancer spreads, it becomes what’s called metastatic, and it’s much harder to treat. This happens most often in a dangerous type of skin cancer called melanoma, which is much less common than some other kinds of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma.

“In many cases, when skin cancer is detected and treated promptly, it can be cured,” says Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. “To prevent skin cancer from progressing and affecting other systems, it is crucial to identify and treat it as soon as possible.”

Basal cell carcinoma may appear on sun-exposed skin as:

  • A pearly or flesh-colored oval bump with a rolled border, which may develop into a bleeding ulcer
  • A smooth red spot indented in the center
  • A reddish, brown, or bluish-black patch of skin on the chest or back

Squamous cell carcinoma may appear on sun-exposed skin as:

  • A firm, reddish, wartlike bump that grows gradually
  • A flat spot that becomes a bleeding sore that won’t heal

The general warning signs of skin cancer include:

  • Any change in size, color, shape, or texture of a mole or other skin growth
  • An open or inflamed skin wound that won’t heal or heals but then returns

“Many times, [skin cancers] start as a subtle pink, red, skin-colored, tan, or brown spot that does not go away,” says Scumpia.

The following are other general signs of possible skin cancers:

  • A mole that bleeds
  • Bumps on your face, neck, or ears that appear waxy or pearl-like
  • Patches of skin that resemble scars
  • Crusty-looking sores that appear sunken in the center or bleed frequently
  • Itchy, bleeding, or crusty lesions that are scaly and rough
  • Pain or itching around a growth on your skin

Remember, skin cancer can present differently in different people, so yours may not look like someone else’s. As Green points out, your skin color and any existing skin conditions — eczema, for example — can affect what your skin cancer looks like.

“Conditions like eczema, which causes dry patches, can influence how skin cancer appears, as eczema causes red, itchy skin, which can alter the appearance of the cancer,” says Green.

Melanoma is the most deadly type of skin cancer. It grows faster than more common types of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It’s more likely to spread to other parts of your body. Though it only accounts for about 1% of all skin cancer cases, it causes the most skin cancer deaths. But it can be cured if caught early. That makes it critical to quickly spot the symptoms of this skin cancer. Warning signs of melanoma include changes to existing moles or new growths on your skin, often — though not always — in places that get exposed to sunlight. Signs to look for include:

  • Moles that look different from your other moles, such as a mole that has two different looking halves
  • Moles that are not uniformly colored but are multicolored or have an unusual pattern of colors, including brown, gray, black, red, and white
  • Moles that have grown larger than 1/4 inch in diameter
  • Moles that have begun to itch or bleed
  • Moles surrounded by an unusual or rough border 

Your moles can be cancerous even if they only have one or two of the above signs. Don’t ignore any moles that show any of these signs.

In addition to moles, melanoma also can be indicated by open sores, patches of scaly skin, and raised bumps.

You also can develop hidden melanoma, meaning it occurs on parts of your body not exposed to the sun, such as:

  • Your toes and the soles of your feet
  • The palms of your hands
  • Your genitals
  • Your scalp

Certain types of hidden melanoma can develop inside your body. This can make them very hard to detect. For example, you can develop melanoma in your eye (ocular melanoma), which can cause vision changes. Mucosal melanoma develops in your mucus membranes, found in your nose, mouth, esophagus, and elsewhere. A third type — acral lentiginous melanoma — develops under a fingernail or toenail or on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet. Hidden melanomas are more common in brown or Black people. Acral lentiginous melanoma is also more common in Asian people.

Also referred to as squamous cell carcinoma, this is the second most common type of skin cancer, after basal cell skin cancer. It develops in the squamous cells, which make up the middle and outer layers of your skin. Most of the time, it’s caused by ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or artificial light sources such as tanning beds and tanning lamps. It’s not often fatal. But if left untreated, it can grow and spread to other parts of your body, causing serious complications, which can be life-threatening.

The symptoms of squamous cell skin cancer include:

  • Scaly, reddish, and rough areas of skin
  • Open sores that frequently have raised edges
  • Brown spots resembling age spots
  • Firm, domed growths
  • Growths that look like warts
  • Tiny skin growths that resemble the curved horn of a rhino
  • Sores that develop in old scars
  • Bumps or lumps that itch, feel dry or scaly, or are not the same color as the skin around them
  • A pale, dry, and cracked lesion on your lower lip that may burn when exposed to sunlight
  • White or pale spots inside your mouth — on your tongue, gums, or cheeks
  • Rough growths, such as bumps, that scab over or bleed
  • Wounds or sores that don’t heal or that return after healing
  • Flat, scaly, red patches larger than 1 inch in diameter

Squamous cell skin cancer can develop anywhere on your body. Most often, though, it occurs on parts that get exposed to the sun. In brown and Black people, it is more likely to develop on skin that does not get exposed to the sun. It can develop on your genitals, inside your anus, and in the tissue under your fingernails and toenails.

The most common type of skin cancer — and, worldwide, the most common of all types of cancer — is basal cell skin cancer, which affects nearly 1 in 5 Americans. It develops in the lower part of your epidermis, which consists of the outer layers of your skin. Commonly referred to as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), it’s rarely fatal. But it can destroy skin and be disfiguring if not treated early. Fortunately, it often can be cured with a simple outpatient procedure called Mohs surgery, which removes the cancerous growth. It’s very rare for BCC to spread, or metastasize, but if that happens, it can be life-threatening. So make sure to get treated right away.

BCC usually develops on sun-exposed skin, often on your head or neck. But it also can occur on parts of the skin not typically exposed to the sun, such as your genitals.

Here are the symptoms of basal cell skin cancer to watch for:

  • Shiny lumps that appear see-through (translucent), are the same color as the skin surrounding them, and may bleed and scab over
  • Lesions that are brown, black, or blue or are covered with dark spots and have translucent and somewhat raised borders
  • Flat and scaly patches with raised borders that grow larger over time
  • A white and waxy lesion that resembles a scar and has no clear border, which may be a sign that your BCC has become invasive
  • Open sores that don’t heal or heal and then return
  • Reddish, irritated, possibly crusty patches of skin on your face, arm, shoulder, leg, or chest, which may be painful or itchy or may not cause discomfort

Basal cell skin cancer can look different in different people. If you see any unusual signs on your skin, even if they don’t match the above descriptions, play it safe and call your doctor.

Familiarize yourself with how skin cancers look so that you can recognize anything that appears abnormal on your skin. Set aside time to examine yourself on a monthly basis.

“Regular self-examinations are an effective method for detecting potential skin cancer in your body,” says Green. “Everyone should perform these examinations, but it is especially important for those at higher risk of developing skin cancer.”

Here’s how to do it: Examine your skin from head to toe using a full-length mirror and hand mirror to check your mouth, nose, scalp, palms, soles, backs of ears, genital area, and between the buttocks. Cover every inch of skin and pay special attention to moles and sites of previous skin cancer. You won’t be able to see all parts of your body, so ask your spouse, partner, or someone else you feel comfortable with to help. If you find a suspicious growth, have it examined by your dermatologist.

“It is likely that benign conditions may also be identified accidentally, but it is better to be safe than sorry,” says Scumpia.

The ABCDE rule is used to help spot melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. Each letter in the rule stands for a different sign to look for. It can be helpful when you do your self exams.

A for asymmetry. This means that one half of a mole looks different from the other half.

B for border. Melanoma moles have irregular borders that may appear ragged or notched or have indistinct edges, and the color of the mole may spread into the skin around it.

C for color. A melanoma mole can come in a variety of colors. It may show shades of brown, black, and tan, possibly with areas of white, red, pink, gray, or blue.

D for diameter. Most melanoma moles measure about 1/4 inch in diameter and may grow larger.

E for evolving. A melanoma mole changes in appearance over weeks or months.

To use this rule most effectively, ask your doctor for a brochure with pictures, Scumpia recommends. Go through the pictures with your doctor to better understand what you’re looking for. Then, when you do your self exam, you’ll have the rule and images to guide you.

“Anything that reminds patients to perform a self exam is a good tool to raise awareness of spots on their skin,” says Scumpia.

Remember, the ABCDE rule may not capture all melanomas. If you have suspicious skin growths, changes to existing moles, wounds that don’t heal, or other concerning signs, call your doctor.

The ugly duckling sign

In addition to the ABCDE rule, the ugly duckling sign can be helpful when you do a self exam. Basically, what you’re looking for is a mole or other spot that’s different from those elsewhere on your body.

“Either this is the only spot that the patient has, or this is the only spot that looks different when you compare it to all the other spots,” says Scumpia.

If you find an ugly duckling sign, get it checked right away by a doctor.

  • An existing mole changes size, shape, color, or texture; or you develop a very noticeable new mole as an adult
  • A new skin growth or open sore does not heal or disappear in six weeks or heals and then returns
  • You have a mole or other growth that bleeds for no clear reason
  • You have any spots that match the ABCDE rule
  • You notice a spot on your skin unlike other spots, called an ugly duckling sign
  • You have a spot that begins to itch
  • You develop a scaly or crusty spot, especially one that does not heal
  • You have skin with significant sun damage, making it more likely to develop skin cancer

Skin cancer can appear in many ways. Its symptoms depend on the type of skin cancer as well as how advanced it is. 

If you have any concerns about abnormal looking moles, spots, or other growths on your skin, see a doctor as soon as possible. 

Skin cancer often can be cured easily when caught early.

What does skin cancer look like?

Skin cancer comes in many forms. It can cause new growths on your skin and changes to moles already there. How it looks depends largely on the type of skin cancer and how far it has progressed. If you notice anything suspicious on your skin, have it checked out.

What are the first signs of skin cancer?

It often begins with subtle spots that may be close in color to the rest of your skin. Such spots do not go away and likely will change over time as the cancer progresses.

Does skin cancer itch?

Not always, but some cancerous growths do cause itching. This usually happens only after they’ve grown quite a bit.

Does skin cancer hurt?

It can. Skin cancer growths may be painful or tender to the touch, and some may cause a burning sensation when exposed to the sun.