Squamous cell carcinoma UK guide: spot the warning signs early, understand your risk factors, and learn how to get checked fast, even amid NHS delays.
FindCare Editorial Team
Hebra Journal
Finding a scaly, crusty lump on your skin that refuses to heal is unsettling — and it's worth taking seriously. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer in the UK, with around 25,000 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin diagnosed each year. The good news? When caught early, most people with squamous cell carcinoma in the UK are completely cured with relatively simple treatment. The challenge is knowing what to look for and getting seen quickly — something that isn't always easy when dermatology waiting lists are stretched.
In this guide, we'll cover what SCC looks like, who's most at risk, what's happening in UK research right now, and how to get a suspicious spot checked fast.
Squamous cell carcinoma is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer that develops in the squamous cells — the flat cells that make up the outer layer of your skin. Unlike melanoma, which often develops from moles, SCC typically appears on skin that has had years of sun exposure: the face, ears, scalp, neck, backs of the hands and lower legs.
SCC grows more slowly than melanoma, but it shouldn't be ignored. Unlike basal cell carcinoma (its more common non-melanoma cousin), SCC has a small but real chance of spreading to lymph nodes or other parts of the body if left untreated. That's why NICE guidance tells GPs to refer suspected SCC urgently, on the same two-week pathway used for melanoma.
Related read: basal cell carcinoma warning signs
SCCs are usually raised lesions, and they often look different from other skin cancers. See a doctor if you notice a sore or lump on your skin that:
SCC can also develop from actinic keratoses — rough, sandpaper-like patches caused by sun damage — so any patch that suddenly thickens, grows or becomes painful deserves attention.
Because SCC most often appears on sun-exposed areas, make a habit of checking your face, ears, scalp, lips and hands. Ears and lips are particularly important: SCCs in these locations can behave more aggressively.
Cumulative, unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light is the biggest driver of SCC — and research shows UV exposure during childhood and adolescence carries even more weight than exposure in adulthood. Other factors that raise your risk include:
The immunocompromised group is getting particular attention right now. In May 2026, Cancer Research UK announced the SPOT-IT trial, led by Professors Catherine Harwood and Rubeta Matin, which is investigating the best ways to prevent SCC in people at the highest risk — including those with weakened immune systems. It's a welcome sign that prevention, not just treatment, is becoming a research priority as UK skin cancer rates continue to rise.
If your GP suspects squamous cell carcinoma, they should refer you urgently to a dermatologist under the two-week wait pathway. In practice, the system is under pressure: research on the pathway found only around 74% of patients were seen within the two-week target, short of the 100% standard NICE expects. Melanoma and SCC together make up roughly 6% of all two-week wait skin referrals — meaning specialists must sift through many benign lesions to find the dangerous ones.
Once diagnosed, treatment is usually straightforward. Options include:
Some NHS skin cancer clinics now offer rapid "see and treat" services, where treatment happens on the same day as your clinic appointment. The outlook is genuinely reassuring: doctors cure most people with squamous cell skin cancer, and European estimates put five-year relative survival at about 90%.
The single most important factor in SCC outcomes is how early it's caught — yet many people delay because they aren't sure their lesion is "worth bothering the GP about," or because getting an appointment feels like a battle. With NHS dermatology waits ranging from weeks to many months for routine referrals, that hesitation is understandable but risky.
This is exactly the gap that skin health triage technology helps close. Instead of waiting and worrying, you can photograph the lesion, get an AI-assisted assessment of whether it needs urgent attention, and be connected directly to a dermatologist — often within days rather than months. For a condition where a fast diagnosis usually means a simple cure, that speed matters.
Related read: how online skin checks work
Squamous cell carcinoma is common, highly treatable, and far too easy to dismiss as "just a scab" or "an age spot." If you have a crusty, scaly or tender lump that has stuck around for more than four weeks — especially on sun-exposed skin — get it checked. The odds are strongly in your favour, but only if you act.
Worried about a lump or sore that won't heal? Hebra can help. Snap a photo, get an instant AI-powered skin assessment, and connect directly with a dermatologist — no lengthy referral queues. Visit www.hebra.health and get answers about your skin today.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about any skin changes that concern you.
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