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Patient Education

Skin Cancer on the Face

Why the face is the most common site for skin cancer in Australia, the warning signs to look for, and the treatment options that protect both your health and your appearance.

The face receives more sun exposure over a lifetime than almost any other part of the body, and it is where many skin cancers first appear — particularly in fair-skinned Australians. The good news is that facial skin cancers are highly treatable when detected early, and modern techniques can remove them while preserving appearance.

Why the Face Is High-Risk

  • Constant, cumulative UV exposure — the face rarely gets a day off from the sun
  • Thin skin with less underlying tissue, so cancers can reach deeper structures sooner
  • Many high-risk zones: nose, eyelids, ears, lips and cheeks
  • Cosmetic importance means lesions are often noticed — but sometimes dismissed as "just a blemish"

Common Facial Skin Cancers

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

The most common facial skin cancer, often appearing on the nose, cheeks or forehead as a pearly or translucent bump with fine blood vessels, a sore that keeps bleeding and not healing, or a scar-like patch. It grows slowly but can invade locally if ignored.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

Often on the lower lip, ears or scalp edge: a firm, red, scaly or crusted lump that grows faster than BCC and has a greater potential to spread if high-risk features are present.

Lentigo Maligna (Melanoma in Situ on Sun-Damaged Skin)

A slowly enlarging flat brown-black patch, most often on the cheeks or forehead of older Australians. Because it can look like an ordinary "age spot", it is easily missed — dermoscopy makes the difference.

Warning Signs Worth Getting Checked

✗ See a doctor if you notice

  • A sore that bleeds, crusts or fails to heal within 4 weeks
  • A new pearly, waxy or scar-like lump
  • A flat brown patch that is slowly growing or changing
  • A scaly, crusted or firm red lump anywhere on the face, ear or lip

✓ Usually benign — but monitor

  • Seborrhoeic keratoses ("warty" age spots) that have been stable for years
  • Long-standing small skin tags or freckles
  • Symmetrical, stable moles without change

Treatment: Health First, Appearance Respected

Facial skin cancer treatment has two goals: removing the cancer completely, and achieving the best possible cosmetic result. Depending on the type, size and location, options include:

  • Surgical excision with margin control — complete removal with laboratory confirmation that the margins are clear, using staged techniques that map the wound before reconstruction
  • Photodynamic therapy (PDT) — a light-activated treatment for certain superficial lesions and for treating sun-damaged "fields" on the face without surgery
  • Cryotherapy or topical therapy — for suitable pre-cancerous sun spots

At Skin Cancer Laser Centre, margin-controlled staged surgery and PDT are core services — designed for facial lesions where both complete clearance and appearance matter.

This page provides general educational information only. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace individual medical advice. If you are concerned about a lesion, please book a professional skin assessment.

Related Information & Services

Concerned about a spot or lesion?

Skin Cancer Laser Centre, Drummoyne — opening Monday 2 November 2026. Book a professional skin check with our doctors.

BOOK A SKIN CHECK