Squamous cell carcinoma forms when squamous cells begin to cluster together and grow uncontrollably. In most cases, this is a result of cellular damage caused by repeated exposure to UV rays over time.
This means that people who use tanning beds or who have spent a lot of time outdoors are at a much higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma. People who have pale skin types, a history of actinic keratosis, an ulcer or sore that won’t go away, have had some form of the human papillomavirus or have been badly burned in the past are also at a higher risk for developing the cancer.