It may also appear in the genital area, or in scars or skin sores anywhere on the body.
While squamous cell carcinoma can look like a flat area closely resembling healthy skin, there may be clearer signs of malignancy:
Rough or scaly red patches that may bleed or crust
Raised growths or lumps, sometimes with a depression in the center
Open sores, possibly with oozing or crusted areas, that don’t heal or that go through cycles of healing and bleeding
Growths that resemble warts (2)
Certain skin conditions may be precursors to squamous cell carcinoma, or even early forms of it.
Actinic keratosis can look like small, crusty, or scaly bumps or hornlike lesions that range in size from a teeny spot to lumps that are more than an inch wide. The base can be dark or light skin-colored, and there may be other colors as well, including tan, pink, and red.
A variant of actinic keratosis called actinic cheilitis affects the lower lip and may lead to chapping, cracks, and white discoloration.
Leukoplakia causes white patches on the tongue, gums, cheeks, and other mucous membranes of the mouth.