Skin cancer shows up as a visible change on your skin: a new growth, a sore that won’t heal, or a mole that starts looking different. The specific symptoms depend on which type of skin cancer is developing, but all three major types (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma) produce changes you can spot with your own eyes. Catching these changes early matters enormously. Melanoma found while still localized has a 5-year survival rate of nearly 100%, compared to just 34% once it has spread to distant parts of the body.
Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer, and it tends to appear in areas that get regular sun exposure like the face, ears, and neck. It looks different depending on your skin tone. On lighter skin, the most recognizable form is a shiny, somewhat translucent bump with a pearly white or pink surface. On brown and Black skin, that same bump often appears brown or glossy black. You may notice tiny blood vessels running through it, and the bump can bleed and then scab over repeatedly.
Not all basal cell carcinomas look like bumps, though. Other forms include a flat, scaly patch (with or without a raised edge), a brown or blue lesion with dark spots and a slightly raised translucent border, or a white, waxy area that resembles a scar and has no clearly defined edge. The hallmark across all these variations is a skin change that simply does not heal. If you have a sore or scab that keeps coming back in the same spot over weeks, that pattern alone is worth getting checked.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type, and its symptoms overlap somewhat with basal cell but tend to have a rougher, crustier texture. The classic sign is a firm bump (called a nodule) that can look pink, red, brown, or black depending on skin color. It may also show up as a flat sore topped with a scaly crust, or as a new raised area developing on top of an old scar or wound.
This type has a few location-specific symptoms worth knowing. On the lip, it often starts as a rough, scaly patch that can progress to an open sore. Inside the mouth, it may appear as a sore or rough patch that doesn’t resolve. Squamous cell carcinoma can also develop as a raised, wartlike growth on or around the genitals or anus. Unlike basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell has a meaningful risk of spreading if left untreated, so persistent rough patches or non-healing sores in any of these areas deserve prompt attention.
Melanoma Warning Signs
Melanoma is less common than the other two types but far more dangerous. It develops in the cells that give skin its color, which means it usually involves a mole, either a new one or an existing one that changes. The widely used ABCDE checklist gives you five specific things to look for:
- Asymmetry: One half of the mole doesn’t match the other half.
- Border: The edges are ragged, notched, or blurred. Pigment may spread into the surrounding skin.
- Color: Multiple shades are present, including black, brown, tan, white, gray, red, pink, or blue.
- Diameter: Most melanomas are larger than 6 millimeters (roughly the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, though they can be smaller. Any change in size is worth noting.
- Evolving: The mole has changed in size, shape, or color over the past few weeks or months.
Beyond the ABCDE list, there’s a simpler instinct check sometimes called the “ugly duckling sign.” If one mole among all your moles looks noticeably different from the rest, that outlier deserves a closer look. Most people’s moles share a general family resemblance. The one that doesn’t fit the pattern is the one to watch.
Symptoms on Darker Skin Tones
Skin cancer can develop on skin that rarely or never sees the sun, which is particularly relevant for people with darker skin. The most common form of melanoma in people with dark skin is acral lentiginous melanoma, which appears on the palms, soles of the feet, fingers, toes, and nail beds. It can look like a dark patch on your palm or the bottom of your foot, or a dark band running lengthwise under a fingernail or toenail.
Because skin cancer awareness campaigns have historically focused on sun-exposed areas and lighter skin, these signs are easy to miss or dismiss. A dark streak under a nail that wasn’t caused by injury, or a dark spot on the sole of your foot that’s growing, are symptoms that warrant the same urgency as a changing mole on sun-exposed skin.
Precancerous Spots to Watch
Not every concerning skin change is cancer yet. Actinic keratosis is a rough, scaly patch that develops from years of sun exposure and is considered a precursor to squamous cell carcinoma. These patches feel dry and sandpapery, sometimes with a hard, horn-like crust. The base can be tan, pink, red, or skin-colored, and the patches may itch or feel prickly and tender. They’re most common on the face, ears, scalp, forearms, and backs of the hands. Treating actinic keratoses before they progress is one of the most straightforward ways to prevent squamous cell carcinoma from developing.
Rarer Types
Merkel cell carcinoma is uncommon but aggressive. It typically appears as a painless bump on the skin that grows quickly, often on the face, head, or neck. The bump can look pink, purple, red-brown, or match your surrounding skin tone, and its two sides may not be symmetrical. The defining feature is speed: Merkel cell carcinoma grows noticeably over weeks rather than months. A bump that enlarges rapidly or bleeds easily from minor contact like washing or shaving is a red flag.
How to Check Your Own Skin
A monthly self-exam is the simplest way to catch skin cancer symptoms early. The best time is right after a bath or shower, when your skin is fully visible and well-lit. Work systematically: face, ears, neck, chest, arms (including underarms), and hands. Then use a mirror to check your back, buttocks, and genital area. Sit down to examine your legs, the soles of your feet, and between your toes. If you have breasts, lift them to see the skin underneath. Don’t skip your scalp, where melanoma can hide under hair.
You’re not looking for a diagnosis. You’re looking for anything new, anything changed, and anything that doesn’t heal. A mole that was round and is now uneven. A sore that scabs over but reappears. A dark spot under a nail you don’t remember injuring. When you know what your skin normally looks like, the abnormal stands out. That’s the entire point of checking regularly: building a mental baseline so changes become obvious before they become dangerous.