Squamous Cell Carcinoma Strikes South Florida Skin More Than You Know

If you live in South Florida, your skin has been collecting sun exposure since the day you got here — whether that's your whole life or just a few winters as a snowbird. That exposure adds up, and one of the most common results is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most common skin cancer in the country. It's not as widely talked about as melanoma, but it's a lot more common than most patients realize, and it shows up constantly in our Miami, Parkland, and Tamarac offices.

Here's the straight talk: SCC usually looks pretty unimpressive at first. A rough, scaly patch. A sore that scabs over and comes back. A red bump that bleeds when you shave or towel off. It's easy to write off as a bug bite, a pimple, or "just dry skin from the AC." That's exactly why it gets missed — and why so many patients come in after the spot has been there for months.

What Is Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Most SCC stays put and is highly treatable when caught early. But left alone long enough, it can grow deeper into the skin and, in some cases, spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body. That's what we mean by metastatic squamous cell carcinoma — and it's a very different conversation than catching a small spot on the ear or forearm. Metastatic SCC is more aggressive, requires more extensive treatment, and carries real risk. The good news: it's also largely preventable with early detection. This is why we tell patients the same thing over and over — if a spot on your skin isn't healing the way a normal scrape or bump should, get it looked at.

Where We See It Most in South Florida

SCC loves the spots that get the most sun with the least protection: ears, lips, the backs of hands, the scalp (especially if you're thinning on top), and the tops of ears and forearms. We've written before about how often patients miss skin cancer forming inside the ear canal and how scalp cancers hide under hair for the same reason — these areas just don't get checked as often as they should.

SCC also frequently develops from a precursor called actinic keratosis — those rough, sandpapery patches a lot of South Florida adults have and ignore. We break down why that matters in our piece on actinic keratosis as a precancerous warning sign. Left untreated, these spots can progress into something more serious.

Why Broward County Patients Shouldn't Wait

If you're searching for treatment centers in Broward County, here's the honest answer: proximity and speed matter more than people think. SCC caught early is often treated in a single office visit. SCC caught late may require more extensive surgery, imaging, and follow-up care. We see patients in Parkland and Tamarac regularly who put off a visit for a year or more because the spot "didn't hurt" — pain is rarely the symptom that signals a problem.

Dr. Angelo Ayar and the team specialize in exactly this kind of diagnosis and treatment, including Mohs surgery, the gold-standard technique for removing skin cancer with precision while preserving as much healthy skin as possible. It's a technique Dr. Ayar trained extensively in during his residency at the University of Michigan, and it's one of the reasons patients travel across Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties specifically for his care.

What a Visit Actually Looks Like

No gatekeeping, no scary waiting room energy — just a straightforward exam. If something looks suspicious, we biopsy it right there and explain exactly what we're looking for in plain language. If it comes back as SCC, we talk through next steps immediately: what the treatment involves, how long recovery takes, and what to expect for healing in our humidity (something we cover in more detail in Mohs surgery recovery in South Florida heat).

And if you're not sure whether a spot is worth mentioning at all, that's precisely what a full-body skin exam is for. We'd genuinely rather see you for ten spots that turn out to be nothing than have you sit on the one that matters. Learn more about our squamous cell carcinoma treatment options, or book a visit at our Miami, Parkland, or Tamarac locations today.