Photos of non melanoma skin cancer

Types of skin cancer

On this page we have some photographs of the 2 main types of non melanoma skin cancer. These are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Read about the types of non melanoma skin cancer

We have a separate page with photos of melanoma skin cancer.

Find out more about photos of melanoma skin cancer

Non melanoma skin cancer on people with black and brown skin

Skin cancer is less common for people with brown and black skin. They can also appear differently on these skin types.

Basal cell carcinoma generally appears as a darker coloured growth. It may be mistaken for a mole.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the type most commonly diagnosed in people with black and brown skin. It usually develops on areas that are not exposed to the sun.

Photographs of basal cell carcinomas

There are different types of basal cell skin carcinomas. We have photographs of the following types:

• nodular basal cell carcinoma

• pigmented basal cell carcinoma

• infiltrative basal cell carcinoma - also called sclerosing or morphoeic basal cell carcinoma

Nodular basal cell carcinoma

Nodular basal cell carcinoma can be see through (translucent) and shiny. You can often also see their blood vessels. Sometimes they have broken skin (ulcer). They may also have fluid filled sacs.

Pigmented basal cell carcinoma

Pigmented basal cell carcinomas have dark areas, often brown, blue or grey in colour. They can look like warts or sometimes a melanoma skin cancer.

Read more about melanoma skin cancer

Infiltrative basal cell carcinoma

This type of basal cell skin carcinoma may look like a sore area on the skin that doesn’t heal. It might look skin coloured or waxy. Or it might look like a scar or thickened area of skin that's very slowly getting bigger. You might also see small blood vessels. 

Squamous cell carcinomas

Squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) can vary in how they look. They usually occur on areas of skin exposed to the sun like the scalp or ear.

SCCs can look different. They can be a pink or red, scaly, small bump or patch. They can be sore or they might be painless.

Over time they can get bigger and they might develop a sore in the centre. This can bleed or scab over.

Thank you to Dr Charlotte Proby for her permission and the photography.