What should you know about brown melanoma?

Melanoma may contain brown, black, tan, blue or unevenly distributed pigment. Colour alone cannot identify it. A suspicious mark may stand out from your other moles, develop an irregular outline, show several shades, enlarge, or change in texture. Some melanomas are flat while others become raised, crusted or prone to bleeding. A clinician may examine the skin with magnification and compare the mark with surrounding lesions. If it cannot be confidently identified, a biopsy is used to examine cells and confirm the diagnosis.

Arrange a dermatology appointment promptly for a new, evolving or unusual brown mark. Do not scrape, burn or attempt home removal, because this can injure the skin and make assessment harder. Photographing the area beside a ruler can help you describe change, but it does not replace examination. If melanoma is confirmed, care may include surgical excision, additional staging such as a sentinel lymph node biopsy, and treatment chosen according to the tumour’s features and whether it has spread. Explore information about Melanoma, Surgical Excision, Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Immunotherapy.

Seek an urgent clinical review if a pigmented spot is changing quickly, bleeding without a clear injury, repeatedly crusting, becoming painful, or developing a new firm area. Arrange prompt care as well if pigment extends beyond the visible border or a nearby lymph node becomes swollen. Severe headache, weakness, confusion or a seizure in someone with known melanoma requires emergency assessment.

Ask whether the mark needs a biopsy, which changes make it concerning, and how soon results are expected. You can also ask how much skin would be removed, whether staging tests are appropriate, how the scar will be cared for, and what follow-up schedule fits your diagnosis.