Symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Basal cell carcinoma has different ways it appears on the skin, and the only sign of this type of cancer is visible growth on your skin. Contact our dermatologist Harley street London as soon as possible if you notice any of these signs:

• A dome-shaped skin growth with visible blood vessels: This growth can vary in colour, it can be pink, black, brown or skin-coloured, and it can also have flecks of these colours. It can bleed easily, it might be flat in the centre and also ooze and crust over.
• The skin appears shiny pink or red; it is a slightly scaly patch, especially on the trunk: This develops slowly and might be mistaken for a blotch of eczema.
• A skin-coloured growth ranging from pale white to yellow, it is hard with a waxy feeling, and it looks like a scar: It might not be easy to see the edges.

Basal cell carcinoma might have the appearance of a sore that:

• Has blood vessels that are visible in and around it
• Bleeds easily
• The centre is sunken like a carter
• Is difficult to heal and reoccurs after healing
• Oozes and crusts over

In rare cases, BCC can be painful and itchy, and it usually looks like a sore that will not heal, especially in the case of Nodular basal cell carcinoma.

Book an appointment online to schedule a visitation at our dermatology clinic London or call us at 020 71833648 for immediate treatment once you observe these symptoms. We are always happy to help!

Types of Basal Cell Carcinoma

• Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma: This skin cancer appears translucent with a dome-shaped growth containing visible blood vessels.
• Pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma: This type creates a black or brown growth on your skin.
• Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma: This is found mostly in the trunk, and it appears reddish with a scaly patch.
• SclerosingBasal Cell Carcinoma: This type is pink- coloured and forms on the nose like a scar, it is often mistaken for an injury, but it is basal cell cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma can reoccur after treatment, take a look at your skin, and if you notice any growth or changes, immediately book an appointment with the dermatologist in Harley street London or call 020 71833648 and our experienced dermatologists will proffer you a solution right away.

Who Gets Basal Cell Carcinoma

This common skin cancer can happen to anyone but this risk is higher in some people than in others. The risks factors that make some  people more prone to basal cell carcinoma than others are:

Physical traits like:

• The inability to tan
• Having red or blond hair
• Having grey, green, or blue eyes
• Having freckled or light-coloured skin

What you’ve done like:

• Using tan beds frequently
• Spending a lot of time in the sun working or playing without covering up with clothing properly or using sunscreen.

Your Medical History:

• If a close relative or a member of your family had basal cell carcinoma
• If you had a BCC previously, the risk of it reoccurring is 40%.
• When you are taking drugs that suppress the immune system, people are placed usually on these drugs after an organ transplant or in cases of autoimmune diseases like lymphoma, severe arthritis or HIV.
• Long-term use and exposure to X-rays, examples are patients who treat acne using radiation methods.

Genetic conditions:

People younger than 20 years of age can be at risk of this condition and even develop it when they have a rare health complication called basal cell nevus syndrome.

Also, people younger than 20 years of age who are born with other rare medical conditions can make them susceptible to many types of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma.