What Does Basal Cell Carcinoma Look Like?

Hi, I'm Dr. Jane Yoo, board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. Today I want to talk about basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, the most common type of skin cancer. BCC begins in the basal cells, which are found at the bottom layer of the skin's outermost layer. It usually develops from chronic sun exposure, but indoor tanning increases the risk as well. BCC grows slowly and rarely spreads to other parts of the body, but that does not mean that it's harmless. If left untreated, it can grow deeply into the skin and surrounding structures, causing tissue damage and disfigurement. You'll usually find BCC on sun-exposed areas like the nose, ears, neck, and scalp, as well as the upper chest. In lighter skin, it often looks like a shiny bump or a pink patch. With rolled edges and small blood vessels. In darker skin, it may show up as a dark patch or a flat, slowly growing area that looks like a scar. Some spots may bleed easily or scab over and return. So if you have a lesion that keeps coming back, is growing, or not healing, it's time to get checked. I frequently treat basal cell carcinoma in my office with Mohs micrographic surgery. A technique that removes cancer while examining each layer under the microscope during the procedure. Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rate and is especially useful in areas where preserving healthy tissue is important, like the face. Other treatment options may include prescription creams or radiation, depending on the size, depth, and location of the lesion. Even though BCC is rarely life-threatening, it is still cancer and should be taken seriously. Daily sun protection makes a huge difference. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply regularly, wear hats as well as sun protective clothing, and avoid tanning beds. Skin checks are the best way to catch BCC early, so if something doesn't look right, don't wait. The earlier we treat it, the better the outcome.