Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat to Look ForFrequent Symptoms (All Types)Melanoma SymptomsUncommon SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See a Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Skin Cancer GuideHow Skin Cancer Is Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What to Look For
Frequent Symptoms (All Types)
Melanoma Symptoms
Uncommon Symptoms
Complications
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Skin Cancer Guide
Since there are no general screening guidelines forskin cancer, most people need to rely on recognizing the signs and symptoms of the disease to catch it as early as possible.Squamous cell carcinomasmay produce a skin lesion that is wart-like and scaly, with a depression (ulcer) in the center.Basal cell cancersare often white, pearly, or flesh-colored, dome-like lumps with a waxy appearance, and they can ulcerate. Signs of melanoma often include anew or existing molethat has irregular borders or elevation, varies in color, or is changing in other ways. Complications of skin cancer, such as metastases, may lead to symptoms as well. Melanoma can metastasize. Skin squamous cell cancers only do so very rarely, and basal cell cancer almost never will.
Skin cancers occur most commonly on sun-exposed regions of the body but may occur anywhere.
Let’s take a look at the common and uncommon signs of skin cancer, as well as the specific characteristics to watch for thatcould signal a melanoma.
© Verywell, 2018
Any new spots that appear on the skin could potentially be skin cancer, considering that one in five people will develop at least one skin cancer in their lifetime. Definitively distinguishing the different types of skin cancer requires a biopsy and microscopic evaluation, but the general appearance of these tumors also differs to some degree.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoBasal cell carcinoma affecting the ear.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoSquamuos cell carcinoma.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoMelanoma.DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
Below are some of the symptoms of skin cancer, but it’s important to recognize that each person and every skin cancer is different. If you have a spot on your skin that concerns you, it’s important to have it checked out, whether or not you have any of the symptoms mentioned.
A Sore That Doesn’t Heal
Many skin cancers are first dismissed as being due to a bug bite, minor injury, or irritation, but become more obvious when they don’t go away over time. If you notice a sore on your skin that refuses to heal, even if it seems to be healing but then reappears, talk to your healthcare provider. In general, any skin change that hasn’t resolved on its own over a period of two weeks should be evaluated.
Changes in an Existing Skin Lesion
Some skin cancers arise out of a skin lesion or mole that has been present for a long time. If you have any freckles, moles, or other skin spots that are changing, talk to your healthcare provider.
Sensation in a Skin Lesion
Most often, we don’t have any sensation associated with moles or other skin lesions. With skin cancer, people may notice persistent itching, tenderness, numbness, tingling, or pain. Some people have described the sensation as a feeling akin to ants crawling on their skin.
2:02Click Play to Understand What Skin Cancer Looks Like
2:02
Click Play to Understand What Skin Cancer Looks Like
It’s important to take a closer look at the potential symptoms of a melanoma specifically, as these cancers can grow and spread rapidly, and are much easier to treat in the early stages of the disease.
A melanoma may present as a new mole that can appear abnormal, but they often arise out of moles that have been present for a long time.
In white people, and lighter-skinned Hispanics, they are most common on the legs in women and on the back in men. For those with dark skin, the most common locations are the soles of the feet, the palms of the hand, under toenails and fingernails, and on mucous membranes (such as around the mouth, nose, and genitals).
The ABCDE (and F) rulecan be helpful as you check out the moles on your body:
A: Asymmetry
Normal freckles, moles, and other skin lesions are most often symmetric, whereas melanomas are often asymmetric. If you were to divide the mole into two halves, the two sides would appear different. Not all normal skin spots, such as birthmarks, are symmetric, however, and there are many factors that dermatologists take into account when looking at a mole.
B: Border
The borders (edges) of a melanoma are often irregular and may appear ragged, notched, or blurry. The lesion may also look like it is spreading, with redness or swelling in the area surrounding the mole or darker pigment that appears to be leaking into surrounding tissue from the border of a mole.
C: Color
Melanomas often have multiple and uneven colors and hues. These may include shades of black,brown, and tan, with areas of white, gray, red, and blue seen at times as well. Some melanomas have the classic description of being red, white, and blue, with hints of each of these colors in a single mole.
It’s important to note that a mole that appears lighter in one area may be just as concerning as one that appears to be darkening in one.
D: Diameter
The diameter of a melanoma is often larger than six millimeters (1/4 of an inch), or about the size of a pencil eraser (or larger). Skin lesions that are this size should be checked out even if they are symmetrical with only one color and regular borders. Lesions smaller than an eraser should also be checked out if they have any of the other characteristics listed here.
E: Evolving and/or Elevated
“E” stands for two different features of melanoma:
When a melanoma develops in an existing mole, the texture may change and become hard, lumpy, or scaly. Although the skin may feel different and itch, ooze, or bleed, a melanoma does not usually cause pain.
F: “Funny Looking”
Sometimes, the letter “F” is added to the mnemonic and refers to a lesion being “funny looking.“A mole that doesn’t look like other moles on your body or that simply doesn’t look right to you should be checked out. You know your skin better than anyone. Trust your intuition.
Other symptoms of skin cancer may also occur. While the following are uncommon, when added together, they aren’t all that rare.
Change in Vision
A change in vision, such as blurry vision in only one eye, may be a symptom ofocular melanomaor melanoma of the eye.
Ocular melanoma accounts for around 5% of melanomas and occurs in theiris(the white of the eye), ciliary body, or choroid.
Other symptoms can include the appearance of a dark spot on the white of the eye, a loss of peripheral vision, seeing flashing lights, floaters (seeing specks floating in your line of vision), or redness or bulging of one eye.
Dark Lines on the Fingernails or Toenails
The appearance of a dark area under a fingernail or toenail that appears without an obvious injury should always be investigated. Melanoma of the nail bed (subungual melanoma) often presents when a pigmented streak of the nail involves the cuticle (Hutchinson’s sign). These cancers are most common on the thumb and big toe but may occur on any nail.
While subungual melanomas are uncommon in whites, accounting for only around 1% of melanomas, they are the most common form of melanoma found in dark-skinned individuals.
New “Scars”
We often think of skin cancers as being bumps, but some are flat and others even form depressions in the skin. Morpheaform basal cell carcinoma often presents as a depression of the skin that looks like a scar.
Flat Red Patches and Rashes
One type of cancer that affects the skin,T-cell lymphoma, often begins with very itchy, flat, red patches and plaques that are easily mistaken for eczema or psoriasis.
One type of T-cell lymphoma, mycosisfungoids, transitions from these patches to dome-shaped nodules, and then to extensive reddened areas on multiple areas of the body. It may spread to lymph nodes and other regions of the body such as the lungs, liver, and bones. T-cell lymphomas most often begin on the buttocks, groin, hips, armpits, and chest.
Other cancers, such as breast cancer, may spread (metastasize) to the skin and initially be mistaken for a benign rash.Inflammatory breast canceris a type of breast cancer that originates in the skin and appears, at first, to be an eczematous type of rash.
There are a number of complications that may occur with skin cancer. With non-melanoma skin cancers, most of these are due to the local growth of the tumor. With melanoma, complications may be related to the local growth of cancer, metastases to other parts of the body, and side effects of the treatment options used.
Secondary Infection
Since skin cancer disrupts the normal protective barrier of the skin, bacteria may enter causing askin infection. Infections can range from a mild, pimple-like infection tocellulitis(an infection that spreads on the surface of the skin but also goes deeper), and even to seriousstaph infectionsandsepsis(body-wide infections). Treatments for skin cancer may also lead to infections.
Scarring and/or Disfigurement
Scarring and disfigurement may occur due to the growth of skin cancer and/or due to treatments to remove it. When skin cancers are discovered early, these complications are uncommon, but cancers that have been present for some time may invade deeper into the tissues, damaging nerves or muscles.
Lymphedema
Many people are familiar with arm lymphedema that develops in some women who have had breast cancer surgery, but lymphedema may occur nearly anywhere. With skin cancer, it’s most common when lymph nodes are removed as part of the surgery but may occur with untreated cancer.
Recurrence
Skin cancers may recur after treatment, especially those that are more advanced at the time of diagnosis. Non-melanoma skin cancers may recur locally (in the area where they originated), but melanomas and some squamous cell carcinomas may recur at a distant site.
Metastases
Melanoma can spread to nearly any region of the body, but the mostcommon sites of melanoma metastases, as well as squamous cell carcinoma metastases, are lymph nodes, bones, the lungs, the liver, and the brain.
Spread of these cancers to bones can cause:
Cancers thatspread to the lungscan cause a persistent cough or shortness of breath. Spread to the liver (liver metastases) can result in jaundice, a yellowing of the skin. Brain metastases may result in headaches, seizures, vision changes, or weakness on one side of the body.
Anxiety and Depression
Appearance can play an important role in self-image, and cancers that are located in regions visible to others can lead to anxiety and depression in some. Fortunately, plastic surgery, when needed, can do a remarkable job in restoring appearance.
If you notice any of the signs or symptoms of skin cancer mentioned above, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider. A dermatologist can examine your skin and determine if a biopsy is needed. This is true no matter your skin color.
Skin cancer can more difficult to see or may look different on darker skin, and even healthcare providers can overlook melanomas in people of color. If you are concerned, but do not feel that your concern is being addressed, be your own advocate and continue to ask questions or get a second opinion.
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It’s not uncommon for people to put off seeking medical attention for skin cancer, but the earlier these cancers are diagnosed, the better the outcomes. While finding melanoma early can make a difference in survival, even less harmful skin cancers often require extensive surgical techniques, and hence disfigurement, if they are allowed to grow unchecked.
Frequently Asked QuestionsBasal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer.Skin cancer typically shows only on the skin until it metastasizes to another area of the body. For example, melanoma that metastasizes to the lungs may cause shortness of breath.The five-year survival rates for melanomaand Merkel cell carcinomaare 99% and 76%, respectively. Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are not tracked in the same way, but death from these is very uncommon.
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer.
Skin cancer typically shows only on the skin until it metastasizes to another area of the body. For example, melanoma that metastasizes to the lungs may cause shortness of breath.
The five-year survival rates for melanomaand Merkel cell carcinomaare 99% and 76%, respectively. Basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers are not tracked in the same way, but death from these is very uncommon.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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