What Skin Cancer Looks Like

The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change to your skin. This change can take many forms, including:

  • Translucent pearl-shaped growth

  • Mole that has begun to grow, bleed, and/or itch

  • Mole with any ABCDE feature:

Asymmetrical. If lesion were folded in half, the two sides would not match.

Borders irregular.

Color varies.

Diameter greater than 6 mm (size of a pencil eraser). While melanomas are usually greater than 6 mm when diagnosed, they can be smaller.

Evolving. A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape, or color.

  • Brown or black streak underneath a nail

  • Sore that repeatedly heals and reopens

  • Smooth, waxy lesion

  • Cluster of slow growing, shiny or scaly lesions that are pink or red

To help you recognize the many different forms that skin cancer can take, the links below take you to pages that show several photographs. If you notice a lesion on your skin that resembles any of examples shown on these pages, make an appointment to see a dermatologist. Don’t delay. With early detection and proper treatment, the cure rate for skin cancer averages 95%.

Warning: Some of the photographs shown on the following pages depict advanced forms of skin cancer that some may find disturbing.

Visual Guides
Basal Cell Carcinoma: What it Looks Like

Melanoma: What it Looks Like

Merkel Cell Carcinoma: What it Looks Like

Squamous Cell Carcinoma: What it Looks Like

All content solely developed by the American Academy of Dermatology

Regular self-examinations of your skin are key to early detection of skin cancer. If you have never examined your skin for cancer, getting a free skin cancer screening can be helpful. During the screening, you will be checked for signs of skin cancer and taught how to examine your own skin.

These free screenings are part of a national initiative sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) to raise awareness of skin cancer and encourage Americans to begin a lifelong habit of regular skin self-examinations.

Since 1985, dermatologists have volunteered to conduct more than 1.8 million free skin cancer screenings.

To find a screening near you, visit Free Skin Cancer Screening Program.
 
 

 
 

 
     © American Academy of Dermatology, 2009  All rights reserved.
 		 Page last updated 12/12/08

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