Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes and SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
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Table of Contents
Types and Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common type ofskin cancerworldwide, often producing shiny lesions on the skin that can be (but are not always) discolored.It develops in the basal cells, which originate in the lowest level of theepidermis.
Basal cell carcinoma accounts for about 80% of all non-melanoma skin cancer cases worldwide, and skin damage from UV light (sunlight, tanning beds) is one of the leading causes.
A biopsy is the most definitive way to verify a basal cell carcinoma diagnosis, and surgical removal of the cancer is usually recommended. A commitment to prevention, of course, is critical when it comes to BCC and all forms of skin cancer.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Types and Symptoms
Abasal cell lesionis often described as a pearly papule because it has a slight shine.These papules are elevated (sometimes very slightly) above the surface of the skin and are generally the same color or slightly lighter than the surrounding skin.
Different symptoms and features may develop in some cases, including:
BCC lesions can appear suddenly. They may start at a size of 1 centimeter (cm) and continue to grow in size after they initially appear, becoming more noticeable with time.
Basal cell carcinoma lesions usually appear on areas of the body that have been exposed to sunlight, especially high levels of sunlight, including the face, ears, arms, legs, back, and abdomen.BCC can also occur in areas that aren’t exposed to UV at all, such as thescalp, though this is not common.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDermNet /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.
Variations
Basal cell carcinoma lesions can be categorized into several different types, each of which has differences when it comes to appearance.
Complications
If basal cell carcinoma is left untreated, the lesions can grow and may eventually ulcerate (break through the skin) or damage the surrounding tissue or bone.
While it is rare, there are individuals who have lost an eye,nose, or ear due to untreated BCC.
The cancer can spread (metastasize) to other regions of the body, potentially causing serious health problems, though this is not common.
Some of the BCC-associated DNA alterations that occur can encourage cancer cells to proliferate, and some of these changes stand in the way of your body’s ability to suppress tumor cell growth. Scientists continue to research exactly how damaged DNA leads to skin cancers.
Other types of skin cancer, such assquamous cell carcinoma, are more closely correlated with UV light exposure than BCC is. That, however, should not discount the role ultraviolet light plays in your risk of basal cell carcinoma.
UVA and UVB Light
UVA and UVB rays have different wavelengths, 280 to 315 nanometers (nm) and 315 to 400 nm, respectively.This means that UVA light penetrates deeper into your skin, though both can lead to skin damage that manifests as a tan, sunburn, or, eventually, skin cancer.
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light can come from the sun or use oftanning salons. Outdoor exposure to each type of UV ray depends on the weather conditions and time of day.For example, while you will have exposure to them when it’s sunny out, UVA rays penetrate more in cloudy weather.
Sunblock can help protect your skin, but UVA and UVB light rays can penetrate sunscreens and sunblock too. That means that prolonged exposure, evenwithsunblock still exposes your skin to the harmful effects.
Wearable UV Sensors for Sun Protection
Risk Factors
More than 4 million people are diagnosed with BCC each year in the United States.While this type of cancer typically begins during middle-age or beyond, it can also affect young adults. In fact, experts warn that BCC is affecting people at younger and younger ages.
Certain risk factors put you at greater risk for basal cell carcinoma:
Compared with whites, blacks have a decreased risk of BCC on UV light-exposed skin areas, but the same incidence of BCC on the covered skin. Having darker skin does not mean that you are protected from basal cell carcinoma—or any type of skin cancer, for that matter.
Your healthcare provider may recognize your skin lesion as BCC (and classify it as a certain type) based on appearance, but a biopsy must be done to confirm the diagnosis.
A skin biopsy is a removal of skin tissue for examination under a microscope. There are severaltypes of skin biopsies. The right procedure for you depends on a few factors, including whether the lesion is raised above your skin.
Tumor staging is a classification used to describe the size of a tumor and how much it has spread. The grading of a tumor describes how fast-growing the cells are.
Your physical examination and biopsy are both used for tumor staging and grading.
Actinic Keratosis vs. Basal Cell Carcinoma: Differences and Similarities
Your treatment depends on the type, extent, and location of your lesion(s). Although BCC doesn’t typically spread to distant organs, the lesions can eventually cause disfigurement and should be removed as soon as possible.
Methods commonly used to treat BCC include:
The treatment required to remove basal cell carcinomas is much simpler and less likely to cause significant scarring when they are small.
Investing inprevention strategiesis so important when it comes to skin cancers. It is best to completely avoid using tanning beds/booths, and to be mindful of the amount of sun you’re getting (as well as to be protected when you are outdoors).
Regularskin self-examscan help you catch any lesions at an early stage before they grow or spread.
Safe Sun Exposure
You need to protect yourself from UV rays whether it’s bright and sunny or cloudy.
If you have to work outside in the hot sun, dress in clothing that covers your skin and wear a hat if possible. It isn’t always easy to find clothes that covers your skin without overheating you, so it’s worth planning ahead. You might even look for clothing made of fabrics with an SPF rating.
If you can adjust your schedule, try to go out when the sun isn’t so bright and make sure you spend at least some of your time in the shade.
Consider using a beach umbrella or sitting under a canopy if you are dining at an outdoor cafe.
Sunscreen
There are a number of features to pay attention to when selecting a sunscreen. Some points to keep in mind:
Keep in mind that SPF doesn’t necessarily correlate with whether a product is broad-spectrum or water-resistant or not. So you have to look at each of these features individually.
How to Apply Sunscreen
Maintain Skin Health
Get a medical assessment of any dark spots, shiny spots, or any areas with color or texture changesbeforethey grow or become serious.
You can have regularly scheduled appointments with a dermatologist if you are at risk of BCC, and you can also make an appointment when you notice concerning lesions on your skin.
How to Prevent Skin Cancer
A Word From Verywell
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common—but also one of the most curable—of all cancers. However, even after effective treatment, a person with a history of BCC has a greater likelihood of developing it again than someone with no history of the disease. You need to be especially vigilant aboutpreventionif you have a history of BCC.
Keep in mind that it isn’t healthy to completely avoid the sun—not only is sunlight a source ofvitamin D, a lack of sunlight is associated with seasonal affective disorder. Moderation is the key.
18 SourcesVerywell 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.Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin cancer facts & statistics.American Cancer Society.Where do skin cancer start?Berking C, Hauschild A, Kölbl O, Mast G, Gutzmer R.Basal cell carcinoma-treatments for the commonest skin cancer.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014;111(22):389-95Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma treatment.Lang BM, Balermpas P, BauerA, et al. S2k guidelines for cutaneous basal cell carcinoma - Part 1: epidemiology, genetics and diagnosis.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019;17(1):94-103. doi:10.1111/ddg.13733Subramaniam P, Olsen CM, Thompson BS, Whiteman DC, Neale RE.Anatomical distributions of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in a population-based study in Queensland, Australia.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(2):175-182. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.4070Castanheira A, Soares P, Boaventura P.Scalp basal cell carcinoma: A different entity?.Dermatol Ther. 2019;32(2):e12828.Chung S.Basal cell carcinoma.Arch Plast Surg. 2012;39(2):166–170. doi:10.5999/aps.2012.39.2.166Pellegrini C, Maturo MG, Di Nardo L, Ciciarelli V, Gutiérrez García-Rodrigo C, Fargnoli MC.Understanding the molecular genetics of basal cell carcinoma.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(11):E2485. doi:10.3390/ijms18112485Watson M, Holman DM, Maguire-eisen M.Ultraviolet radiation exposure and Its impact on skin cancer risk.Semin OncolNurs. 2016;32(3):241-54.doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2016.05.005Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation and your skin.Little MP, Linet MS, Kimlin MG, et al.Cumulative solar ultraviolet radiation exposure and basal cell carcinoma of the skin in a nationwide US cohort using satellite and ground-based measures.Environ Health. 2019;18(1):114. doi:10.1186/s12940-019-0536-9Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma overview: The most common skin cancer.Bakos RM, Kriz M, Mühlstädt M, Kunte C, Ruzicka T, Berking C.Risk factors for early-onset basal cell carcinoma in a German institution.Eur J Dermatol. 2011;21(5):705-9Piva de Freitas P, Senna CG, Tabai M, Chone CT, Altemani A.Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: A rare manifestation of a common disease.Case Rep Med. 2017:8929745. doi:10.1155/2017/8929745Skin Cancer Foundation.All about sunscreen.Verkouteren JAC, Smedinga H, Steyerberg EW, Hofman A, Nijsten T.Predicting the risk of a second basal cell carcinoma.J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(11):2649-2656. doi:10.1038/jid.2015.244Melrose S.Seasonal affective disorder: An overview of assessment and treatment approaches.Depress Res Treat. 2015:178564. doi:10.1155/2015/178564Additional ReadingCastanheira A, Soares P, Boaventura P.Scalp basal cell carcinoma: A different entity?Dermatol Ther. 2019 Mar;32(2):e12828. doi:10.1111/dth.12828. Epub 2019 Jan 30.Lang BM, Balermpas P, Bauer A, Blum A, Brölsch GF, Dirschka T,et al. 7S2kGuidelines for Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma - Part 1: Epidemiology, Genetics and Diagnosis.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019 Jan;17(1):94-103. doi:10.1111/ddg.13733. Epub 2018 Dec 28.Pellegrini C, Maturo MG, Di Nardo L, Ciciarelli V, Gutiérrez García-Rodrigo C, Fargnoli MC.Understanding the Molecular Genetics of Basal Cell Carcinoma.Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Nov 22;18(11). pii: E2485. doi:10.3390/ijms18112485
18 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.Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin cancer facts & statistics.American Cancer Society.Where do skin cancer start?Berking C, Hauschild A, Kölbl O, Mast G, Gutzmer R.Basal cell carcinoma-treatments for the commonest skin cancer.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014;111(22):389-95Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma treatment.Lang BM, Balermpas P, BauerA, et al. S2k guidelines for cutaneous basal cell carcinoma - Part 1: epidemiology, genetics and diagnosis.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019;17(1):94-103. doi:10.1111/ddg.13733Subramaniam P, Olsen CM, Thompson BS, Whiteman DC, Neale RE.Anatomical distributions of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in a population-based study in Queensland, Australia.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(2):175-182. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.4070Castanheira A, Soares P, Boaventura P.Scalp basal cell carcinoma: A different entity?.Dermatol Ther. 2019;32(2):e12828.Chung S.Basal cell carcinoma.Arch Plast Surg. 2012;39(2):166–170. doi:10.5999/aps.2012.39.2.166Pellegrini C, Maturo MG, Di Nardo L, Ciciarelli V, Gutiérrez García-Rodrigo C, Fargnoli MC.Understanding the molecular genetics of basal cell carcinoma.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(11):E2485. doi:10.3390/ijms18112485Watson M, Holman DM, Maguire-eisen M.Ultraviolet radiation exposure and Its impact on skin cancer risk.Semin OncolNurs. 2016;32(3):241-54.doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2016.05.005Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation and your skin.Little MP, Linet MS, Kimlin MG, et al.Cumulative solar ultraviolet radiation exposure and basal cell carcinoma of the skin in a nationwide US cohort using satellite and ground-based measures.Environ Health. 2019;18(1):114. doi:10.1186/s12940-019-0536-9Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma overview: The most common skin cancer.Bakos RM, Kriz M, Mühlstädt M, Kunte C, Ruzicka T, Berking C.Risk factors for early-onset basal cell carcinoma in a German institution.Eur J Dermatol. 2011;21(5):705-9Piva de Freitas P, Senna CG, Tabai M, Chone CT, Altemani A.Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: A rare manifestation of a common disease.Case Rep Med. 2017:8929745. doi:10.1155/2017/8929745Skin Cancer Foundation.All about sunscreen.Verkouteren JAC, Smedinga H, Steyerberg EW, Hofman A, Nijsten T.Predicting the risk of a second basal cell carcinoma.J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(11):2649-2656. doi:10.1038/jid.2015.244Melrose S.Seasonal affective disorder: An overview of assessment and treatment approaches.Depress Res Treat. 2015:178564. doi:10.1155/2015/178564Additional ReadingCastanheira A, Soares P, Boaventura P.Scalp basal cell carcinoma: A different entity?Dermatol Ther. 2019 Mar;32(2):e12828. doi:10.1111/dth.12828. Epub 2019 Jan 30.Lang BM, Balermpas P, Bauer A, Blum A, Brölsch GF, Dirschka T,et al. 7S2kGuidelines for Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma - Part 1: Epidemiology, Genetics and Diagnosis.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019 Jan;17(1):94-103. doi:10.1111/ddg.13733. Epub 2018 Dec 28.Pellegrini C, Maturo MG, Di Nardo L, Ciciarelli V, Gutiérrez García-Rodrigo C, Fargnoli MC.Understanding the Molecular Genetics of Basal Cell Carcinoma.Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Nov 22;18(11). pii: E2485. doi:10.3390/ijms18112485
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.
Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin cancer facts & statistics.American Cancer Society.Where do skin cancer start?Berking C, Hauschild A, Kölbl O, Mast G, Gutzmer R.Basal cell carcinoma-treatments for the commonest skin cancer.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014;111(22):389-95Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma treatment.Lang BM, Balermpas P, BauerA, et al. S2k guidelines for cutaneous basal cell carcinoma - Part 1: epidemiology, genetics and diagnosis.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019;17(1):94-103. doi:10.1111/ddg.13733Subramaniam P, Olsen CM, Thompson BS, Whiteman DC, Neale RE.Anatomical distributions of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in a population-based study in Queensland, Australia.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(2):175-182. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.4070Castanheira A, Soares P, Boaventura P.Scalp basal cell carcinoma: A different entity?.Dermatol Ther. 2019;32(2):e12828.Chung S.Basal cell carcinoma.Arch Plast Surg. 2012;39(2):166–170. doi:10.5999/aps.2012.39.2.166Pellegrini C, Maturo MG, Di Nardo L, Ciciarelli V, Gutiérrez García-Rodrigo C, Fargnoli MC.Understanding the molecular genetics of basal cell carcinoma.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(11):E2485. doi:10.3390/ijms18112485Watson M, Holman DM, Maguire-eisen M.Ultraviolet radiation exposure and Its impact on skin cancer risk.Semin OncolNurs. 2016;32(3):241-54.doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2016.05.005Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation and your skin.Little MP, Linet MS, Kimlin MG, et al.Cumulative solar ultraviolet radiation exposure and basal cell carcinoma of the skin in a nationwide US cohort using satellite and ground-based measures.Environ Health. 2019;18(1):114. doi:10.1186/s12940-019-0536-9Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma overview: The most common skin cancer.Bakos RM, Kriz M, Mühlstädt M, Kunte C, Ruzicka T, Berking C.Risk factors for early-onset basal cell carcinoma in a German institution.Eur J Dermatol. 2011;21(5):705-9Piva de Freitas P, Senna CG, Tabai M, Chone CT, Altemani A.Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: A rare manifestation of a common disease.Case Rep Med. 2017:8929745. doi:10.1155/2017/8929745Skin Cancer Foundation.All about sunscreen.Verkouteren JAC, Smedinga H, Steyerberg EW, Hofman A, Nijsten T.Predicting the risk of a second basal cell carcinoma.J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(11):2649-2656. doi:10.1038/jid.2015.244Melrose S.Seasonal affective disorder: An overview of assessment and treatment approaches.Depress Res Treat. 2015:178564. doi:10.1155/2015/178564
Skin Cancer Foundation.Skin cancer facts & statistics.
American Cancer Society.Where do skin cancer start?
Berking C, Hauschild A, Kölbl O, Mast G, Gutzmer R.Basal cell carcinoma-treatments for the commonest skin cancer.Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2014;111(22):389-95
Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma treatment.
Lang BM, Balermpas P, BauerA, et al. S2k guidelines for cutaneous basal cell carcinoma - Part 1: epidemiology, genetics and diagnosis.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019;17(1):94-103. doi:10.1111/ddg.13733
Subramaniam P, Olsen CM, Thompson BS, Whiteman DC, Neale RE.Anatomical distributions of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in a population-based study in Queensland, Australia.JAMA Dermatol. 2017;153(2):175-182. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2016.4070
Castanheira A, Soares P, Boaventura P.Scalp basal cell carcinoma: A different entity?.Dermatol Ther. 2019;32(2):e12828.
Chung S.Basal cell carcinoma.Arch Plast Surg. 2012;39(2):166–170. doi:10.5999/aps.2012.39.2.166
Pellegrini C, Maturo MG, Di Nardo L, Ciciarelli V, Gutiérrez García-Rodrigo C, Fargnoli MC.Understanding the molecular genetics of basal cell carcinoma.Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(11):E2485. doi:10.3390/ijms18112485
Watson M, Holman DM, Maguire-eisen M.Ultraviolet radiation exposure and Its impact on skin cancer risk.Semin OncolNurs. 2016;32(3):241-54.doi:10.1016/j.soncn.2016.05.005
Skin Cancer Foundation.UV radiation and your skin.
Little MP, Linet MS, Kimlin MG, et al.Cumulative solar ultraviolet radiation exposure and basal cell carcinoma of the skin in a nationwide US cohort using satellite and ground-based measures.Environ Health. 2019;18(1):114. doi:10.1186/s12940-019-0536-9
Skin Cancer Foundation.Basal cell carcinoma overview: The most common skin cancer.
Bakos RM, Kriz M, Mühlstädt M, Kunte C, Ruzicka T, Berking C.Risk factors for early-onset basal cell carcinoma in a German institution.Eur J Dermatol. 2011;21(5):705-9
Piva de Freitas P, Senna CG, Tabai M, Chone CT, Altemani A.Metastatic basal cell carcinoma: A rare manifestation of a common disease.Case Rep Med. 2017:8929745. doi:10.1155/2017/8929745
Skin Cancer Foundation.All about sunscreen.
Verkouteren JAC, Smedinga H, Steyerberg EW, Hofman A, Nijsten T.Predicting the risk of a second basal cell carcinoma.J Invest Dermatol. 2015;135(11):2649-2656. doi:10.1038/jid.2015.244
Melrose S.Seasonal affective disorder: An overview of assessment and treatment approaches.Depress Res Treat. 2015:178564. doi:10.1155/2015/178564
Castanheira A, Soares P, Boaventura P.Scalp basal cell carcinoma: A different entity?Dermatol Ther. 2019 Mar;32(2):e12828. doi:10.1111/dth.12828. Epub 2019 Jan 30.Lang BM, Balermpas P, Bauer A, Blum A, Brölsch GF, Dirschka T,et al. 7S2kGuidelines for Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma - Part 1: Epidemiology, Genetics and Diagnosis.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019 Jan;17(1):94-103. doi:10.1111/ddg.13733. Epub 2018 Dec 28.Pellegrini C, Maturo MG, Di Nardo L, Ciciarelli V, Gutiérrez García-Rodrigo C, Fargnoli MC.Understanding the Molecular Genetics of Basal Cell Carcinoma.Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Nov 22;18(11). pii: E2485. doi:10.3390/ijms18112485
Castanheira A, Soares P, Boaventura P.Scalp basal cell carcinoma: A different entity?Dermatol Ther. 2019 Mar;32(2):e12828. doi:10.1111/dth.12828. Epub 2019 Jan 30.
Lang BM, Balermpas P, Bauer A, Blum A, Brölsch GF, Dirschka T,et al. 7S2kGuidelines for Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma - Part 1: Epidemiology, Genetics and Diagnosis.J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2019 Jan;17(1):94-103. doi:10.1111/ddg.13733. Epub 2018 Dec 28.
Pellegrini C, Maturo MG, Di Nardo L, Ciciarelli V, Gutiérrez García-Rodrigo C, Fargnoli MC.Understanding the Molecular Genetics of Basal Cell Carcinoma.Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Nov 22;18(11). pii: E2485. doi:10.3390/ijms18112485
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