Signs and Symptoms of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin, also known as squamous cell skin cancer, might not cause bothersome symptoms until it has grown quite large. Then, symptoms might include itching, bleeding, or even pain.

But if you know what to look for, you can spot signs of squamous cell skin cancer when it’s still small and treatment is more likely to be successful.

General signs and symptoms of skin cancer

Skin cancers can show up in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes they might even look like noncancerous skin conditions. It’s important to check your skin regularly and ask your doctor about any of these possible signs of skin cancer:

• A new, expanding, or changing mole, spot, or bump on the skin
• A sore that bleeds or doesn’t heal after several weeks
• A rough or scaly red patch, which might crust or bleed
• A wart-like growth
• A mole that’s new, growing, or changing in shape or color
• A mole with an odd shape, irregular borders, or areas of different colors

Signs and symptoms of squamous cell skin cancer

In people with lighter skin tones, squamous cell cancers tend to occur on sun-exposed areas of the body such as the face, ears, neck, lips, and backs of the hands.

In people with darker skin tones, SCCs are less common, but they’re more likely to appear in areas that aren’t often exposed to the sun.

Less often, SCCs can form in the skin of the genital area. They can also develop in long-standing scars or skin sores.

Squamous cell cancers can appear as:

• Rough or scaly red or dark patches, which might crust or bleed
• Raised growths or lumps, sometimes with a lower area in the center
• Open sores that might have oozing or crusted areas, which might not heal, or that heal and then come back
• Wart-like growths
• Flat areas showing only slight changes from normal skin

Some SCCs might look different from these descriptions, so it’s important to see a healthcare provider if you have any new or changing skin growths, sores that don’t heal, or other areas that concern you.