Skin Cancer Image Gallery

About 8 out of 10 of all skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas (also called basal cell cancers). These cancers usually develop on areas exposed to the sun. They can appear as raised areas (like this one), and can be pale, pink, or red. They may have one or more abnormal blood vessels.

Most basal cell carcinomas occur in places exposed to the sun, but they can also develop in other places. They can appear as flat, pale or pink areas, like this one. Larger basal cell carcinomas may have oozing or crusted areas.

Some basal cell carcinomas may appear as raised, pink or red, translucent, shiny, pearly bumps that may bleed after a minor injury. They may have a lower area in their center, and blue, brown, or black areas.

Basal cell carcinomas tend to grow slowly. It’s very rare for a basal cell cancer to spread to other parts of the body. But if a basal cell cancer is left untreated, it can grow into nearby areas and invade the bone or other tissues beneath the skin.

Basal cell carcinomas can develop on the scalp, so it’s important to check your scalp when you check the rest of your body for any new marks or growths. Many doctors recommend doing this once a month.

Here's another example of a basal cell carcinoma on the scalp. If your hair stylist or barber notices a spot on your scalp, it's a good idea to get it checked.

Basal cell cancers usually develop on areas exposed to the sun, especially the face, head, and neck, but they can occur anywhere on the body.

Basal cell carcinomas are more likely to develop in older people, but younger people also get them, probably because they are now spending more time in the sun with their skin exposed.

Men are more likely than women to develop basal cell carcinomas, but it’s important for anyone to get an unusual spot or growth checked by a doctor. Larger basal cell carcinomas may have oozing or crusted areas.

Basal cell carcinomas can sometimes be hard to see, such as this one on the face. On lighter skin, they can appear as pale, pink, or red, shiny or pearly bumps.

Some basal cell carcinomas can be easier to spot, such as this one near the ear. On darker skinned people, they might appear lighter or darker than the person's usual skin tone.

Basal cell cancers are often fragile and bleed easily. Sometimes they are found because people see a doctor about a “shaving cut” that doesn’t heal.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is a cancer that develops from cells that line lymph or blood vessels. It usually appears as tumors on the skin or on mucosal surfaces such as inside the mouth, but these tumors can also start in other parts of the body.

The abnormal cells of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) form purple, red, or brown blotches or tumors on the skin. These affected areas are called lesions. 

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is caused by infection with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), also known as human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8).

People infected with HIV are much more likely to develop Kaposi sarcoma (KS), so many health experts recommend that people infected with HIV be examined regularly by a health care provider. 

The skin lesions of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) most often appear on the legs or face. Some lesions on the legs or in the groin area may cause the legs and feet to swell painfully.

Melanomas are much less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but they are far more dangerous. Like this one, melanomas may have different colors and jagged borders. They may not be round, and one half might not look like the other half.

Melanomas can occur anywhere on the skin, but they are more likely to start in certain areas. The trunk (chest and back) is the most common site in men. The legs are the most common site in women. The neck and face are other common sites.

Melanomas often look different from other spots on the skin. It’s very important to see a doctor if you have any new moles, moles that are growing or changing in any way, or moles that concern you for any other reason.

Melanomas are usually brown or black, but some can appear pink, tan, or even white. Some melanomas have areas with different colors, and they might not be round like normal moles. They might grow quickly or even spread into the surrounding skin.

Sometimes melanomas can start in places that can be hard to spot, like this one on the heel of the foot. Melanomas aren’t common in people with darker skin, but when they do occur, they are more likely to be on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under the nails.

Here's an example of how a melanoma can look under a fingernail. This is one reason it’s important to check all over your skin, preferably once a month, and report any changes or new areas of concern to your doctor.

Sometimes melanomas can grow in places that can be hard to spot, like this one on the scalp that was caught very early. It is a stage 0 melanoma (in situ) because it hasn’t grown deeper than the top layer of skin.

Many melanomas have features like those seen here: one half doesn't match the other, the borders are irregular, and there are different shades of color. Melanomas can also appear as moles that change in size, shape, or color. Be sure to show your doctor any areas that concern you.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare type of skin cancer. It’s one of the most dangerous types and can be very hard to treat if it has spread. MCC most often starts on skin that's exposed to the sun, like the face, neck, and arms. But it can start anywhere on the body.

Skin (cutaneous) lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Most skin lymphomas are T-cell lymphomas, and almost half are a type known as mycosis fungoides (MF), pictured here.  

T-cell skin lymphomas are also known as cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs).  

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (C-ALCL) is another type of T-cell skin lymphoma. C-ALCL usually starts as one or a few tumors on the skin. Some of these may break open (ulcerate). 

Squamous cell carcinomas may appear as flat reddish or brownish patches in the skin, often with a rough, scaly, or crusted surface. They tend to grow slowly and usually occur on sun-exposed areas of the body, such as the face, ears, neck, lips, and backs of the hands.

Squamous cell carcinomas can also develop in scars or skin sores on any part of the body. These cancers are more likely to grow into deeper layers of skin and spread to other parts of the body than are basal cell cancers, although this is still uncommon.

Squamous cell skin cancers tend to grow slowly and can almost always be cured if found and treated early. But if not treated, these cancers can grow into nearby areas or even spread to other parts of the body, where they can be much harder to treat.

Keratoacanthomas (KAs)are usually benign skin tumors that rarely spread to other parts of the body. They are dome-shaped tumors that often have a crater-like area in the middle, like a volcano. These tumors tend to start on sun-exposed areas of skin.

Squamous cell skin cancers are most common on sun-exposed areas of the body, like the face, neck, and hands, but they can also appear on other places on the body, like this one on a person’s back.

Squamous cell skin cancers can look different, which is why it’s important to pay attention to any new, growing, or changing spots on your skin and have them checked by a doctor.

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the skin are more common in people who have weakened immune systems. For example, this SCC appeared on the ear of a person who had a kidney transplant and was taking medicines to weaken their immune system.

Squamous cell cancers also can start on other parts of the body such as on the lips or inside the mouth.

Squamous cell carcinoma (and other skin cancers) can sometimes start under or around a nail, where it can appear as discolored area and might affect the growth of the nail itself.

Squamous cell skin cancers can look like many things. Any unusual sore, lump, blemish, marking, or change in the way an area of the skin looks or feels may be a sign of skin cancer. The area might become red, swollen, scaly, crusty or begin oozing or bleeding. It may feel itchy, tender, or painful.

Keratoacanthomas (KAs) may start out growing quickly, but the growth usually slows down. Many KAs shrink or even go away on their own over time without any treatment. But some keep growing, and a few may even spread to other parts of the body.

Many doctors think keratoacanthomas (KAs) are a type of squamous cell skin cancer (SCC). KAs can be hard to tell apart from SCCs just by looking at them, so doctors usually advise removing or destroying them (using the same treatments for SCCs), just to be safe.

Melanomas that start in areas that don’t get a lot of sun exposure, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or under the nails, are known as acral melanomas. Acral melanomas are more common in older adults and people with darker skin tones.

Many, but not all, melanomas spread outward on the surface of the skin as they grow (at least at first), so they might be noticed as a dark spot that is changing shape and/or getting bigger. Some start in existing moles, but many do not.

A small portion of melanomas start in places other than the skin, such as under a fingernail or toenail. These might appear as a dark line (streak) in the nail. It’s important to show the doctor anything that concerns you.

Melanomas that start under a nail (or on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet) are known as acral melanomas. Acral melanomas are more common in people with darker skin tones.