Black Moles on the Body: What to Check

Moles range from skin-coloured to very dark brown or black because they contain different amounts and patterns of pigment. Colour alone cannot establish whether a mole is benign.

Some normal moles are uniformly dark, especially in people with naturally deeper skin tones. A dermatologist pays closer attention to change and to how one spot compares with your other moles. Uneven shades, an irregular edge, asymmetry, growth, or a mole that looks unlike the rest can warrant examination.

A dark mark is not always a mole. A crust, blocked pore, harmless growth, or pigment left after inflammation can resemble one, so diagnosis from a photograph or colour description alone is unreliable.

Look over your skin in good light, including the scalp, soles, between the toes, and beneath nails. Note the spot's location and appearance so you can recognise change. Do not cut, burn, tie off, or treat a dark mole with an acid product at home; injury can cause infection and make later assessment harder.

A clinician may inspect the mole with a dermatoscope. If its features are concerning or the diagnosis remains uncertain, removal and laboratory examination may be discussed. Cosmetic removal should also follow a proper skin assessment.

Book a dermatology review for a mole that is new in adulthood, evolving, becoming uneven in colour or shape, enlarging, persistently itchy, painful, crusted, or bleeding without a clear injury. Seek prompt care if bleeding will not stop or if the surrounding skin becomes hot, swollen, or drains pus.

People with many moles, previous skin cancer, or a strong family history can ask whether scheduled skin checks are appropriate for their circumstances.

Ask whether the spot has reassuring dermoscopic features, whether monitoring or removal is more suitable, and what changes should bring you back. If removal is advised, ask whether the whole lesion will be examined, what scar to expect, and how to care for the wound.