Squamous cell carcinoma typically develops in sun-damaged skin in lighter-skinned patients.
Squamous cell carcinoma typically develops in sun-damaged skin in lighter-skinned patients.

Graphic content

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Squamous cell carcinomas, a type of skin cancer, can appear as a round, red mass, typically on a sun-exposed location.
Squamous cell carcinomas, a type of skin cancer, can appear as a round, red mass, typically on a sun-exposed location.
Large, white, slightly elevated lesions and an erosion of the tongue are signs of an oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Large, white, slightly elevated lesions and an erosion of the tongue are signs of an oral squamous cell carcinoma.
As displayed in this early squamous cell carcinoma, a small, elevated lesion may be accompanied with scale or a crust.
As displayed in this early squamous cell carcinoma, a small, elevated lesion may be accompanied with scale or a crust.
Squamous cell carcinoma can involve the fingertip and begin under the fingernail, as displayed here.
Squamous cell carcinoma can involve the fingertip and begin under the fingernail, as displayed here.
Squamous cell carcinoma frequently appears on the face, as displayed in this image.
Squamous cell carcinoma frequently appears on the face, as displayed in this image.
This red lesion, specifically called a plaque, on the leg is typical of a superficial squamous cell carcinoma.
This red lesion, specifically called a plaque, on the leg is typical of a superficial squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays a bleeding lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays a bleeding lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma can appear as a persistent, red, scaly lesion easily mistaken for an area of inflamed skin (dermatitis).
Squamous cell carcinoma can appear as a persistent, red, scaly lesion easily mistaken for an area of inflamed skin (dermatitis).
This image displays squamous cell carcinoma on the nose, a frequent location due to chronic sun exposure.
This image displays squamous cell carcinoma on the nose, a frequent location due to chronic sun exposure.
This image displays a squamous cell carcinoma on a black patient, which is infrequent.
This image displays a squamous cell carcinoma on a black patient, which is infrequent.

Graphic content

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This image displays squamous cell carcinoma on the penis.
This image displays squamous cell carcinoma on the penis.
Squamous cell carcinoma can involve the fingertip and begin under the fingernail, as seen in this image.
Squamous cell carcinoma can involve the fingertip and begin under the fingernail, as seen in this image.
This image displays a crusting and bleeding lesion on the lower lip typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays a crusting and bleeding lesion on the lower lip typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays multiple areas of sun damage and a large squamous cell carcinoma on the middle finger.
This image displays multiple areas of sun damage and a large squamous cell carcinoma on the middle finger.
This squamous cell carcinoma under the toenail has a pink to brown streak of discoloration of the nail plate as well as a thickened, rough area at the edge and under the nail plate.
This squamous cell carcinoma under the toenail has a pink to brown streak of discoloration of the nail plate as well as a thickened, rough area at the edge and under the nail plate.
Due to chronic sun exposure, this foot had sun-induced freckles; a bleeding lesion; and a large, scaling lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
Due to chronic sun exposure, this foot had sun-induced freckles; a bleeding lesion; and a large, scaling lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays an elevated skin lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays an elevated skin lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
A squamous cell carcinoma is often hard to distinguish from an actinic keratosis, which is its precursor.
A squamous cell carcinoma is often hard to distinguish from an actinic keratosis, which is its precursor.
Squamous cell cancer of the lips can present as a nonpainful, enlarging over time, chronic sore or bump. 
Squamous cell cancer of the lips can present as a nonpainful, enlarging over time, chronic sore or bump. 

Images of Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) (20)

Squamous cell carcinoma typically develops in sun-damaged skin in lighter-skinned patients.

Graphic content

Squamous cell carcinomas, a type of skin cancer, can appear as a round, red mass, typically on a sun-exposed location.
Large, white, slightly elevated lesions and an erosion of the tongue are signs of an oral squamous cell carcinoma.
As displayed in this early squamous cell carcinoma, a small, elevated lesion may be accompanied with scale or a crust.
Squamous cell carcinoma can involve the fingertip and begin under the fingernail, as displayed here.
Squamous cell carcinoma frequently appears on the face, as displayed in this image.
This red lesion, specifically called a plaque, on the leg is typical of a superficial squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays a bleeding lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
Squamous cell carcinoma can appear as a persistent, red, scaly lesion easily mistaken for an area of inflamed skin (dermatitis).
This image displays squamous cell carcinoma on the nose, a frequent location due to chronic sun exposure.
This image displays a squamous cell carcinoma on a black patient, which is infrequent.

Graphic content

This image displays squamous cell carcinoma on the penis.
Squamous cell carcinoma can involve the fingertip and begin under the fingernail, as seen in this image.
This image displays a crusting and bleeding lesion on the lower lip typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays multiple areas of sun damage and a large squamous cell carcinoma on the middle finger.
This squamous cell carcinoma under the toenail has a pink to brown streak of discoloration of the nail plate as well as a thickened, rough area at the edge and under the nail plate.
Due to chronic sun exposure, this foot had sun-induced freckles; a bleeding lesion; and a large, scaling lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
This image displays an elevated skin lesion typical of squamous cell carcinoma.
A squamous cell carcinoma is often hard to distinguish from an actinic keratosis, which is its precursor.
Squamous cell cancer of the lips can present as a nonpainful, enlarging over time, chronic sore or bump. 

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer, following basal cell carcinoma. SCC usually occurs on sun-damaged skin, such as the head, neck, arms, and the back of the hands. SCC is most common in individuals with lighter skin colors with a long history of chronic sun exposure.

SCC requires treatment to prevent it from spreading (metastasizing). SCC rarely spreads to lymph nodes or to internal organs. However, if it is neglected, SCC can spread into deeper skin layers or it may spread to other parts of the body.

Who's At Risk?

SCC is most commonly seen in older, lighter-skinned individuals following sun exposure. However, anyone can develop SCC, including darker-skinned individuals, especially in scars and chronic skin sores. In fact, SCC is the most common form of skin cancer in Black individuals.

Risk factors for developing SCC include:

  • Age over 50 years.
  • Light skin, light hair, and/or light eyes.
  • Male sex.
  • Chronic exposure to sunlight or other ultraviolet (UV) light.
  • Exposure to certain chemicals, such as arsenic or tar.
  • Exposure to radiation, such as x-ray treatment for internal cancers.
  • Long-term suppression of the immune system, such as organ transplant recipients.
  • Long-term presence of scars.
  • Chronic ulcers.
  • Previous skin cancer.

Actinic keratoses, also known as solar keratoses, are small rough or scaly areas of skin due to damage from sun exposure. Some actinic keratoses can turn into SCC.

Signs & Symptoms

SCC typically first appears as a pink or red, scaly papule (a small, solid bump). It may be painful or painless. Over time, the lesion becomes larger and deeper. Eventually, the center of the SCC forms a sore and may bleed or become scabbed over. In darker skin colors, the redness may be harder to see or the lesion may appear more purple than red.

The most common locations for SCC in lighter skin colors include the:

  • Head and neck.
  • Arms and hands.
  • Shoulders.
  • Back.
  • Lower lip, especially in smokers.

In darker skin colors, the most common locations for SCC include the:

  • Legs.
  • Non-sun-exposed sites.
  • Sites of chronic scarring.
  • Non-healed leg ulcers.
  • The genital and anal regions.

Self-Care Guidelines

Preventing sun damage is crucial to avoiding the development of SCC and other skin cancers:

  • Avoid UV exposure from natural sunlight and from artificial tanning devices.
  • Wear broad-spectrum sunscreens (blocking both UVA and UVB) with sun protection factor (SPF) 30 or higher, reapplying frequently.
  • Wear wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, and long-sleeved shirts. Some manufacturers make specialty clothing with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) rating.
  • Avoid the sun when it is the strongest (between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM).

Once a month, you should perform a self-exam to look for signs of skin cancer. It is best to perform the exam in a well-lit area after a shower or bath. Use a full-length mirror with the added assistance of a hand mirror. Using a hair dryer can help you examine any areas of skin covered by hair, such as your scalp.

  • In front of a full-length mirror, inspect the front of your body, making sure to look at the front of your neck, chest (including under breasts), legs, and genital areas.
  • With your arms raised, inspect both sides of your body, making sure to examine your underarms.
  • With your elbows bent, examine the front and back of your arms as well as your elbows, hands, fingers, the areas between your fingers, and your fingernails.
  • Inspect the tops and bottoms of your feet, the areas between your toes, and your toenails.
  • With your back to the mirror and holding a hand mirror, inspect the back of your body, including the back of your neck, shoulders, legs, and buttocks.
  • Using a hand mirror, examine your scalp and face.

As you perform your monthly self-exam, familiarize yourself with the moles, freckles, and other marks on your body, and look for any changes in them from month to month, including changes in shape, size, color, and other changes, such as moles that bleed or itch.

Treatments

If your medical professional suspects SCC, they will first want to confirm the diagnosis by performing a biopsy of the lesion. The procedure involves:

  1. Numbing the skin with an injectable anesthetic.
  2. Sampling a small piece of skin.
  3. Having the skin sample examined under the microscope by a dermatopathologist.

SCC treatment depends on a variety of factors, including the type and size of the cancer, location on the body, and microscopic features described in the biopsy report.

Mohs surgery is considered the most effective treatment for SCC, particularly on areas of the body that are cosmetically sensitive. It is also best for SCCs that may be higher risk due to type or size, or because they occur on a body location where SCCs are more likely to recur. In this technique, the physician takes tiny slivers of skin from the cancer site until the skin cancer is completely removed.

Surgical excision is another treatment that is used for SCCs in lower risk areas.

Radiation may also be recommended, as may oral anticancer therapies if the SCC is advanced.

Visit Urgency

If you have developed a new lesion on sun-exposed skin or if you have a spot that bleeds easily or does not seem to be healing, then you should make an appointment with a medical professional, such as a dermatologist. You should also make an appointment if an existing spot on the skin changes size, shape, color, or texture, or if it starts to itch, bleed, or become tender.

Be sure to tell your medical professional when you first noticed the lesion and what symptoms there are (such as easy bleeding or itching). Also be sure to ask your family members if they have ever been diagnosed with skin cancer, and relay this information to your medical professional.

References

Bolognia J, Schaffer JV, Cerroni L. Dermatology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018.

James WD, Elston D, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA. Andrew’s Diseases of the Skin. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019.

Kang S, Amagai M, Bruckner AL, et al. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.

Last modified on June 1st, 2023 at 2:12 pm

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