A Dermatologist's Instagram Post on Spotting Basal Cell Carcinoma

A dermatologist shared an Instagram reel of photos of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). The post says BCC often looks like a pearly pink bump that grows and may bleed. It says BCC can also look like a patch of eczema that never clears. And it says that on darker skin, BCC can look dark brown or even blue-black. The advice: get a spot checked if it is new, won't go away, grows or bleeds.

This is one of the more useful skin posts to cross a feed. We checked it the same way we check any specific, visual health claim. It holds up. Here's the fuller picture.

What the evidence says

BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). It most often forms on skin that gets sun, like the nose. NCI says it often looks like a raised bump that is smooth and pearly. A less common kind looks like a scar, or is flat and firm. So BCC often looks more like "a pimple that won't heal" than a scary, odd-shaped mole. That picture of a mole fits melanoma better.

NCI says BCC may grow into the tissue around it, but it usually does not spread to other parts of the body. So "this probably won't kill me" is usually true. But "it's probably nothing" is the wrong instinct. For more on how BCC is found and treated, see our basal and squamous cell skin cancer guide.

The point about darker skin is real. In a Brazilian study of BCCs in people with darker skin, 45% were heavily pigmented, meaning dark in color. The authors note that the figure in lighter skin is about 7% to 13%. A review of BCC in skin of color found that pigmented bumps were the most common form in half of the studies it looked at.

Dark color can hide the see-through look and the tiny blood vessels doctors are trained to spot. The review says these clues may be missing or harder to see on darker skin. So a pigmented BCC can be mistaken for other growths, including a mole or melanoma. The authors also note that skin of color has been underrepresented in skin research. Our guide to skin cancer in people of color covers the bigger pattern.

What the post can't tell you

A short video or a grid of photos cannot diagnose your spot. BCC has look-alikes. On darker skin, these include harmless growths, other skin cancers and melanoma. The only way to know is an exam. If a spot looks suspicious, a doctor takes a small sample of skin to test, called a biopsy. NCI says a biopsy is how skin cancer is diagnosed. Comparing your skin to photos online can help you decide to make an appointment. It is not a way to rule a spot out.

The "six weeks" in the post is a rule of thumb, not a medical cutoff. A spot that has been there longer is not safe to ignore just because of its age.

When to talk to your care team

Make an appointment with a doctor or dermatologist if you notice a skin change like one of these:

• A sore that does not heal
• A bump that is raised, smooth, shiny or pearly
• A spot that is new, growing or changing
• A spot that bleeds without a clear reason

That's true if the spot is pink and pearly. It's also true if it's brown or blue-black, especially if you have darker skin. This is not an emergency. But it is worth a visit soon rather than waiting to see if it goes away. Our guide to the diagnosis process covers what an exam and biopsy involve. Our page on treatment options covers what usually happens next. NCI lists several treatments, including surgery to remove the spot.

Sources

• National Cancer Institute, "Skin Cancer Treatment (PDQ), Patient Version": cancer.gov
• National Cancer Institute, "Skin Cancer (Including Melanoma)": cancer.gov
• "Basal cell carcinoma in dark skin: clinical and dermoscopy features," Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia: PMC
• "Clinical and Dermoscopic Patterns of Basal Cell Carcinoma and Its Mimickers in Skin of Color: A Practical Summary": PMC
• Cancer Explained, "Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancer: Patient Guide": /cancer-types/basal-cell-and-squamous-cell-skin-cancer/

How this article was prepared

An AI-assisted editorial system helped prepare this page. It used National Cancer Institute guidance. It also used published skin research on how basal cell carcinoma looks on skin of color. Each claim was checked against these sources. No clinician has reviewed it unless one is listed.

Cancer Explained is published by the National Cancer Information Foundation. It is not medical advice and does not suggest a test or treatment.

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