Basal Cell Carcinoma
Typical types and symptoms of basal cell carcinoma including pictures
Written by Dr Nitin Shori | Dermatologically reviewed by Dr Amanda Oakley
Definition | Symptoms | Pictures | Types | Treatment | Causes | Prevention
Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) are often confused with less significant skin lesions due to a lack of awareness. The general population tends to have a better awareness of melanoma which often involves dark pigmented lesions that cause concern. BCCs are often less dramatic in appearance but early detection remains important.
What Is Basal Cell Carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinomas are skin cancers that develop from the deepest cells of the outermost layer of skin, called the epidermis. Specifically, they arise from the basal cells which give them their name (1). Given their origin, it is natural to wonder what basal cell carcinoma looks like.
They generally look like translucent (partly clear) bumps on the skin. However, basal cell cancer can also involve a brown, blue or black lesion. Less commonly they can involve flat red patches and rarer still, appear like white, waxy lesions that look like scars.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Pictures, Types and Symptoms
Basal skin cancer accounts for eighty percent of all skin cancers. As with all types of cancer, early detection is vital. Early stage basal cell carcinoma is usually easily treatable, often with minor surgery under local anaesthetic. In this article we consider the main basal cell cancer symptoms along with pictures of basal cell carcinoma types.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma
Basal cell carcinomas (also known as basal skin cancer) can appear anywhere on the body but the most common sites are sun exposed areas such as the face and arms. It’s important to keep a close eye on your skin to try and identify early basal cell carcinoma, as it’s easier to treat if identified early on.
Typical Basal cell carcinoma symptoms are: (2) (3)
The typical lesions to watch out for are as follows:
Basal Cell Carcinoma Pictures
Below are basal cell carcinoma pictures of typical lesions on various sites of the body. These photos and images of basal cell carcinomas are not exhaustive but are examples of common lesions.
Basal Cell Carcinoma on Face:
Basal Cell Carcinoma on Nose:
Basal Cell Carcinoma on Scalp:
Basal Cell Carcinoma on Ear:
Basal Cell Carcinoma on Eyelid:
Basal Cell Carcinoma on Trunk:
Images in this article were sourced from DermNet NZ, Waikato District Health Board, Raimo Suhonen and Dr Richard Ashton.
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Basal Cell Carcinoma Types
Basal cell carcinoma types are generally classified in the following way:
Below are basal cell carcinoma pictures to illustrate the differences between the various types.
Nodular basal cell carcinoma
As stated, 80 percent of skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas. Around 70 percent of these are nodular basal cell carcinomas. These are lesions found most commonly on the head and generally consist of pearl-shaped nodules with telangiectasia on the surface. Some types of nodular bcc can resemble melanoma. Below are nodular basal cell carcinoma images and photos.
Superficial basal cell carcinoma
Around 20 percent of basal cell carcinomas are superficial basal cell carcinomas. Superficial BCCs involve a well-marked red plaque with a pearl-shaped edge and erosion in sections. They don’t tend to grow invasively. Below are superficial basal cell carcinoma photos.
Pigmented basal cell carcinoma
Pigmentation can be found in several types of basal cell carcinoma including the two most common ones mentioned above. Dark black/brown pigments are found in parts of the lesion. Below are pigmented basal cell carcinoma photos.
Morphoeic basal cell carcinoma
These are uncommon and have a poorly demarcated red plaque with a slightly shiny surface. Below are morpheaform basal cell carcinoma images.
Basosquamous cell carcinoma
Basosquamous carcinoma is fortunately quite rare. It is an aggressive cancer with features of both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. It often recurs locally after removal but also has a strong tendency towards metastasising to distant sites. Below are basosquamous cell carcinoma photos.
Images in this article were sourced from DermNet NZ, Waikato District Health Board, Raimo Suhonen and Dr Richard Ashton.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Treatment and Diagnosis
Basal cell carcinoma diagnosis is a frequent and daily occurrence across the UK. Fortunately, the vast majority are very easy to cure and very few people diagnosed with BCC will see it spread from its starting site (metastasis) or suffer serious ill-health. However, this relies on early detection. As described and illustrated above most of these lesions are easy to notice and this usually prompts early medical review and treatment. This limits the number of people that present for basal cell cancer treatment at a late stage.
Diagnosis is often by inspection but sometimes confirmation is required by a simple skin biopsy which is then assessed under a microscope. Lesions in a single site are usually removed with minor surgical procedures. Basal cell carcinoma removal and surgery often only requires local anaesthetic. Some very small lesions can be treated with topical chemotherapy type creams.
Further details of basal cell carcinoma treatment can be found here.
Basal Cell Carcinoma Causes and Prevention
Several causes for basal cell carcinoma have been identified. BCC can, however, arise without any of these. They start with a single cell that becomes abnormal due to damage to its DNA. These cells then multiply, and as abnormal cells build-up, the skin lesion becomes visible.4
Basal cell carcinoma risk factors include: 5
UV light from sunshine and commercial tanning beds can both cause damage to cells mentioned, ultimately resulting in abnormal skin lesions. More sun exposure from warm climates, excess suntanning and excess use of tanning beds all make BCC more likely. Severe sunburn can also be a factor.
Fair skin is a risk factor as there is less protection for the deeper skin layers from melanin.
As detailed, BCC starts with damage to cells and as we get more damage over time, increasing age is a significant factor.
Radiotherapy for other medical conditions and immunosuppressants drugs can increase the risks of basal carcinoma and must be taken into account when assessing skin lesions.
For more details of risks factors, see this article.
Basal cell carcinoma prevention
Avoiding or minimising these risk factors is the mainstay of basal cell carcinoma prevention. The most important preventable factor is sun exposure.
It is vital to monitor your skin for new lesions and to have new lesions assessed by a medical professional. A Skin check guide and Skin mapping guide are useful background information to help protect yourself. There are also specific skin apps that can make the process easier.
Tracking Skin Lesions
We all have various skin lesions across our body and tend to develop more as we get older. Fortunately the vast majority of them are entirely harmless.
However it is important to monitor new lesions and changing lesions and smartphone apps, specially designed to track changes in the skin, can be really helpful with this. You can take photos at regular intervals in order to track and assess any changes. In some cases photo tracking has helped to highlight changes that need review by a doctor. Read more on how smartphone apps can help with early skin cancer detection.
This article does not replace a professional medical opinion and is for informational purposes only.
Please note, that some skin cancers may look different from these examples shown in the article. Always seek the advice and opinion of your doctor if you have any concerns about your skin.
It might also be a good idea to visit your doctor and have an open talk about your risk of skin cancer and seek for an advice on the early identification of skin changes.
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