Examine your skin regularly. If you find anything unusual like a sore or scab, watch it for changes. See your doctor for sores that don’t heal within a couple months. Also, be on the lookout for scaly skin patches that linger, even if they look normal. The American Cancer Society cautions that squamous cell cancers can appear as:
Red patches with a scaly surface that might crust or bleed.
Raised growths or lumps, sometimes with a lower center.
Open sores that don’t heal. They may have oozing or crusted areas. Suspicious sores may also heal and then come back.
Wart-like growths with rough surfaces.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends regular full-body skin checks by a dermatologist. Your doctor will suggest a schedule based on your skin type and history of sun exposure. Your doctor will want to see you more often if you have a history of squamous cell carcinoma. Those with a history of other skin cancers or disorders, like basal cell carcinoma or actinic keratosis, also need more frequent checks.