Aim The aim of the present study was to delineate the epidemiological profile of young patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated at a healthcare service in northeastern Brazil. Methods A cross‐sectional study was performed involving the quantitative analysis of 51 medical records from patients diagnosed with SCC between 1998 and 2013. All patients aged ≤50 years were included in the study. Statistical analysis involved Pearson's χ2‐test, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann‐Whitney U‐test, with the level of significance set at 5% (P < .05). Results The mean age was 46 ± 7.94 years, and males accounted for 80.4% of the sample. The tongue was the most affected site (37.3%). Most tumors were classified as stage III (26.3%) or IV (42.1%). Surgery associated with chemotherapy was the most common therapeutic approach (39.3%). Female patients had a lower mean age (P = .013) and less advanced clinical staging (P = .022). Smoking was more associated with male sex (P = .043). Conclusion SCC in young patients is more common in males aged 46 ± 7.94 years, with the tongue being the most affected anatomic site. Important differences were found in clinical‐epidemiological features between young men and women.