Basal Cell CarcinomaBasal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and the most common cancer of any type, with roughly 3.6 million cases diagnosed each year in the United States. It begins in the basal layer at the bottom of the epidermis, where new skin cells are produced. BCCs usually grow slowly and rarely spread elsewhere in the body, but an untreated tumor continues to extend downward and outward and can destroy nearby skin, cartilage, muscle and eventually bone. Outcomes are excellent when BCC is found early. At Wall Street Dermatology, treatment follows one of two surgical routes. Mohs micrographic surgery is used for tumors on the face, nose, eyelid, ear, lip, hand or another site where preserving healthy tissue is important, as well as for tumors that have returned after previous treatment. The cancer is removed layer by layer, with microscopic examination between layers during the same visit. Standard surgical excision removes the tumor with a margin of normal tissue and sends it for pathology afterward; it is used when those tissue-sparing or recurrence concerns do not apply. Dr. Julia Tzu is board certified and fellowship-trained in Mohs surgery, and she personally performs the reconstruction.

5 min read · Last updated: 2026-02-08 · Reviewed by Dr. Julia Tzu , MD, FAAD, FACMS

• Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer, with approximately 3.6 million cases diagnosed annually in the U.S. [1]
• BCCs arise from UV-induced DNA damage to basal cells in the epidermis [1]
• Mohs surgery offers cure rates up to 99% for primary basal cell carcinomas [1]
• BCC rarely spreads to distant sites but can cause significant local tissue destruction if untreated [2]

• Pearly or waxy bump, often with visible blood vessels
• Flat, flesh-colored, pink, or brown scar-like lesion
• Open sore that bleeds, oozes, or crusts and doesn't heal
• Pink growth with elevated border and crusted center
• Small translucent or shiny bump
• Red patch that may itch or crust
• Growth that bleeds easily from minor trauma

• A new bump, growth or sore anywhere on the skin still open after a few weeks
• A pimple-like growth that keeps returning to the same spot
• A pale, waxy or scar-like patch that appeared with no injury behind it
• A spot that bleeds or oozes intermittently and then scabs over again
• Any skin change that concerns you
• A lesion of this kind on the nose, eyelid, ear or lip, where early treatment preserves the most tissue
• A basal cell carcinoma returning at a previously treated site, which needs microscopically controlled removal

Have questions about basal cell carcinoma? Our team is here to help.

• Cumulative UV radiation exposure from sun
• UV exposure from tanning beds
• DNA damage triggering uncontrolled basal cell growth
• Severe sunburns, especially early in life
• Chronic sun exposure over decades

We offer a service to help manage this condition: Mohs Surgery .

• Excellent prognosis when detected and treated early
• Treatment success rates exceed 95% with appropriate care
• Mohs surgery offers success rates up to 99% for primary tumors
• Low risk of spreading to distant sites
• Regular follow-up needed as new BCCs may develop
• Patients with one BCC have increased risk of developing another

1. What are the symptoms of Basal Cell Carcinoma?
2. When should you seek care for Basal Cell Carcinoma?
3. What causes Basal Cell Carcinoma?
4. How is Basal Cell Carcinoma treated?
5. Prognosis
6. FAQs
7. Sources

This article draws from 5 peer-reviewed sources.

• [2] Cleveland Clinic – Basal Cell Carcinoma
• [3] Mayo Clinic – Basal Cell Carcinoma

• [1] Skin Cancer Foundation – Basal Cell Carcinoma
• [4] AAD – Basal Cell Carcinoma
• [5] Skin Cancer Foundation – BCC Warning Signs

Medically reviewed by Dr. Julia Tzu , MD, FAAD, FACMS · Last reviewed: 2026-08-31